PH among top hiring destinations for VAs
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES — Virtual assistants (VAs) based in the Philippines are becoming a sought-after hire for startup leaders from the United States (U.S.).
A report by the virtual assistant agency There Is Talent revealed that there are now roughly 40 million VAs across the globe, with the Philippines and India listed as the top hiring destinations.
Ateneo de Manila University labor economist Leonardo Lanzona Jr. said that the rise of the VA industry has been a “blessing and curse for the Philippines.”
In an interview with the online magazine Rest of World, Lanzona said that while Filipinos can now find more work opportunities, the VA industry “[does] not have the same security and benefits that come from regular employment.”
According to a 2022 report by payment platforms Payoneer and GCash, more than 1.3 million Filipinos do online freelance work.
Pay rates are typically decided by the workers and the clients. Manila and Taguig rank as the highest-paying cities for VAs, with an average base salary of US$520.54.
However, Lanzona also pointed out that the temporary nature of VA employment still leaves Filipinos “in a precarious position, facing an insecure future.”
