VA Masters Press & Newsroom
Press coverage, industry data and media kit
Independent reporting on our research from Manila Bulletin, BusinessWorld, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yahoo Finance and the Associated Press. Every figure below is drawn from The State of the Filipino Virtual Assistant Industry.
Our research has been covered by leading media outlets worldwide
Reported by business newsrooms
Staff-written coverage of The State of the Filipino Virtual Assistant Industry report, produced independently by each publication's own reporters.
Global Demand for Filipino VAs Surges Despite AI Concerns
Manila Bulletin reports on the second-quarter surge in international client signups, the markets driving it, and why demand held up against World Bank warnings that AI could reshape parts of the outsourcing sector.
- New international client signups up 110% quarter over quarter
- United States 69% of active contracts, UK 11%, Australia and New Zealand 9%
- 81% of new clients arrived directly through the website, referrals 8%, paid social 5%
- About 87% of clients employ fewer than 50 workers
- Median two days from signing to first onboarding meeting
Over 20,000 Filipinos File Virtual Assistant Applications Monthly
BusinessWorld covers the application-volume data behind the report, the funnel stage by stage, and the selectivity argument that follows from it.
- Monthly applications rose from 10,857 in January to 23,874 in June
- 327 hires from 166,350 applicants, a rate of 0.20%
- 49% invited to a skills test, 1.2% reach interview stage
- 86% of demand comes from businesses under 50 employees
- Philippines estimated at 38% of the global VA workforce
- Global VA market projected at $6.5B in 2026, reaching $34B by 2030
Biz Buzz: Wanted, More Pinoy VAs
The Inquirer's Biz Buzz column examines why international employers are turning to Filipino virtual assistants, and what employers screen for beyond price.
- Record 110% rise in client signups between Q1 and Q2 2026
- Businesses can save up to 80% versus hiring locally
- One in every 508 candidates lands a job, a placement rate of 0.2%
- About 80% of successful hires show fluent or native-level English
- 65% of hires had at least three years of relevant experience
Global Demand for Filipino VAs Doubled in Q2, Study Shows
InsiderPH covers the quarter-on-quarter doubling of international demand and the shift toward employers finding Filipino talent without outbound sales.
- In June, more than one new international business signed up per day
- 81% of new clients came directly through the website
- The UK doubled its share to 11% during the quarter
- Demand now spans four continents and more than 10 countries
Women Lead Philippines' Booming VA Workforce
A second Manila Bulletin report, this one on the demographics inside the data: who applies, who gets through screening, and how the hired cohort differs from the applicant pool.
- Women were 61.5% of 166,350 applications and 69% of successful placements
- Median applicant age of 28
- More than 20,000 apply monthly, about one application every two minutes
- 62% of applicants report fluent or native English, rising to 80% among hires
- 65% of those receiving offers had 3+ years of direct experience
Women Now Lead the Philippines' VA Workforce
Outsource Accelerator, the leading independent industry portal for global outsourcing, examines the demographic and quality findings in the report and what they mean for buyers evaluating offshore staffing options in Southeast Asia.
- Women are 61.5% of applicants and 69% of placed virtual assistants
- 80% of placed workers show English fluency, against 62% across all applicants
- 65% of placed workers hold at least three years of relevant experience
- Median placed worker is 28 years old
- Philippines estimated at 38% of the global VA workforce
- Global VA market valued at $6.5B in 2026, projected to reach $34B by 2030
Startups Fuel Demand for PH Virtual Assistants
Manila Standard reports on the demand side of the data, and on how small and micro-businesses rather than large corporations have become the primary driver of demand for Filipino remote talent.
- 87% of international clients employ fewer than 50 people
- Micro-businesses of 10 or fewer staff account for 57% of hiring
- 41% of new clients begin at 80 hours a month, 20% hire full time from the start
- Two days on average from signing a contract to a new VA starting work
- Fewer than 4% of clients have ever ended a service over performance
- 1 in 5 clients hires additional virtual assistants after the first placement
AI Is Now Part of Hiring. But Do HR Leaders Like It?
Tech.co examines mixed sentiment among HR leaders on candidates using AI in job applications, drawing on research from HireVue and Fabric, and turns to Alon Pearl of VA Masters for guidance on setting clear AI ground rules and judging candidates on demonstrated ability rather than resume polish.
- 62% of HR leaders call candidate AI use smart, 31% call it cheating
- 71% of candidates use AI to write resumes, per HireVue
- 77% of HR leaders use AI weekly or daily
- 38.5% of candidates flagged for cheating behaviour in a Fabric study of 19,000+ AI interviews
Five Roles Small Businesses Might Be Missing as Black Friday Approaches
CPA Practice Advisor reports on why small businesses should identify operational gaps before the holiday rush rather than once sales begin to rise. Alon Pearl of VA Masters sets out five behind-the-scenes roles owners may need covered before Black Friday, and where to start.
- A successful remote position takes a median of 18 days to close, per VA Masters data
- That timeline excludes the time a new hire needs to learn products, systems and customer policies
- NRF forecasts 2026 U.S. retail sales growth of 4.4%, to $5.6 trillion
- Five roles named: customer support, orders and returns, inventory and suppliers, marketing operations, bookkeeping
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Citable quotes from published coverage
Sourced statements from Alon Pearl, Founder and CEO, each linked to the article it appeared in.
"The story here isn't cost, it's selectivity."
"Modern companies are actively looking for simple, affordable ways to grow."
"a permanent change in how global business leaders build their teams"
"four out of five clients find us directly on their own"
"an exceptionally skilled, English-fluent demographic that delivers high-level execution"
"The language proficiency and execution caliber of the Filipino workforce are underappreciated in global commerce."
"Filipino virtual assistants enable companies to expand their operational capacity while reducing labor overhead by up to 80 percent compared to local hiring."
"Customer support and specialized technical roles require more than basic coverage. They also need strong platform skills, industry knowledge, and clear communication."
"For small businesses that cannot afford high local hiring costs, remote hiring isn't about replacing current workers. It is often the key first step that helps a founder stop wasting time on basic tasks and start focusing on growing their business."
"Traditional BPOs were built for repetitive tasks managed through middle management layers that separate the client from the worker."
"Tell candidates in advance whether AI is allowed during applications and assessments. If it is, ask them to explain what they accepted, changed, or fact-checked in the output."
"A candidate may use it to tidy up their wording and still be excellent at the job. Another person may write every word themselves and exaggerate their experience. The better question is whether they can explain what they have done and show that they can do the work."
"presenting yourself well has never been the same thing as doing the job well"
"employers now need a clearer line between what candidates claim and what they can demonstrate"
"Those jobs look small one by one, but in November they all arrive at once."
"A small business does not necessarily need five new people. The owner needs to find the point where work is already starting to pile up."
"A resume tells you where someone has been. It doesn't tell you what they can do on Monday morning."
"Part-time virtual assistant setups give business owners the freedom to buy the exact help they need, test new work routines without big financial risks and add more team hours as company revenue grows."
"Most small businesses don't need one person doing one thing. They need someone who can handle admin in the morning, update the CRM after lunch and get a social post out before the day ends."
Need a fresh quote or an interview for a specific angle? Contact our press team.
Written by our founder
Contributed articles and expert commentary published in industry outlets.
Hiring for Fit: What Thousands of Applicants Taught Me
Contributed article exploring why 89% of new hire failures come down to attitude and culture fit rather than technical skills, and how to structure a vetting process around real work tests.
- Why 89% of hiring failures stem from attitude
- Moving beyond traditional resume screening
- Testing real-world work over rehearsed interviews
- How to screen for coachability and fit
I Watched 102,677 Remote Job Applications Come Through This Year. Here's What Actually Got People Hired
Contributed article analyzing data from over 100,000 applications to reveal what actually helps remote candidates get hired and stand out.
- Analysis of 102,600+ real applications
- Key predictors of remote hiring success
- Why speed and follow-through beat resumes
- The value of specialized skills vs. generalists
Featured research & industry analysis
Major financial and business publications worldwide have carried our study on virtual assistant effectiveness and business transformation.
Comprehensive Client Survey Reveals Transformative Business Results
Our landmark study of over 200 global businesses demonstrates significant operational improvements and cost reductions through strategic virtual assistant implementation.
- Survey of 200+ active clients worldwide
- Up to 80% cost reduction vs. local hiring
- 95% client satisfaction rate
- 89% plan to expand VA teams
Global News Agency Covers Virtual Assistant Market Transformation
Associated Press distribution reaches institutional investors and financial decision-makers worldwide with comprehensive analysis of the remote workforce revolution.
- Distributed to 103M+ monthly readers
- Featured across financial terminals
- Institutional investor coverage
- International market impact analysis
Remote Work Revolution: The Strategic Advantage of Filipino Talent
Expert analysis reveals how businesses are leveraging specialized Filipino virtual assistants to access skills, drive efficiency, and enable leadership focus on strategic growth.
- Traditional industries embracing remote staffing
- Higher retention vs. independent hiring
- Access to specialized skills globally
- Focus shift from cost to strategic value
Israeli Businesses Save Hundreds of Thousands Annually with Filipino Virtual Assistants
Israel Hayom, one of Israel's largest publications, explores how Israeli fintech and tech companies are transforming operations and achieving dramatic cost savings through international teams.
- Up to 80% cost reduction for Israeli companies
- 300% increase in inquiries over 2 years
- Cultural integration and training programs
- Success stories from Israeli entrepreneurs
How Global Businesses Transform Operations with Filipino Virtual Assistants
Industry leaders across e-commerce, healthcare, fintech, and real estate sectors share firsthand accounts of operational efficiency gains and business growth acceleration.
- E-commerce: 2 new product lines launched
- Healthcare: 30%+ expense reduction
- Technology: R&D team productivity doubled
- Real Estate: Substantial cost savings achieved
Investment Platform Features Strategic Business Implementation Analysis
Leading investment and business publication delivers real-world case studies from multiple industries demonstrating measurable ROI and operational transformation.
- E-commerce: Product line expansion enabled
- Medical tourism: Global operations streamlined
- Fintech: R&D productivity doubled
- 89% planning team expansion
National Television Network Covers Virtual Assistant Industry Growth
FOX News Network affiliates across the United States feature our research, reaching millions of viewers nationwide with insights on workforce transformation.
- Multi-station broadcast coverage nationwide
- Reaching 20M+ television viewers
- Local market penetration across US regions
- Mainstream awareness of the VA industry
Premium Business Media Analyzes Remote Workforce Economics
In-depth analysis of virtual assistant market dynamics, cost-benefit structures, and strategic implementation frameworks for business decision-makers worldwide.
- Read by C-suite executives globally
- Strategic business implementation insights
- Market trends and future projections
- Competitive advantage frameworks
Global Brands Tap Filipino VAs for Specialized Jobs
SunStar Davao covers the move beyond basic administrative work toward specialised roles, CRM platform management, technical support, email copywriting and online store management, and what that shift means for concerns about automation. Also carried in the SunStar Davao print edition of 17 August 2026, page 8.
- 80% of hired VAs have fluent or native-level English
- 65% have at least three years of relevant experience
- Average skill-test score among hires of 4.0 out of 5
- Average English accent rating of 4.1 out of 5
- Global VA market at $6.5B in 2026, projected to reach nearly $34B by 2030
Philippines Remote Workforce Disrupts Traditional BPOs as Global VA Market Heads for $34 Billion
Businessner sets the direct placement model alongside the established outsourcing structure, covering selectivity, onboarding speed, client profile and the demographics of the talent pipeline.
- Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are 87% of client placements
- Signups up 110% between Q1 and Q2 2026, with 81% arriving through direct web discovery
- United States 69% of active contracts, United Kingdom 11%, Australia and New Zealand 9%
- Women are 61.5% of applicants and 69% of placements, median age 28
- 1 in 508 applicants placed, a rate of 0.2%
- 64% of companies choose part-time or fractional structures
Philippines Remote Workforce Disrupts Traditional Business Process Outsourcing As Global Virtual Assistant Market Heads For $34 Billion
Allwork.Space, the future-of-work publication, carries the report's findings on businesses moving toward direct, selective virtual assistant placement alongside the established outsourcing model. The piece covers who is hiring, how roles are structured, and how long client partnerships last.
- Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are 87% of client placements
- Micro-businesses of 2 to 10 staff account for 53% of demand, small businesses of 11 to 50 for 30%
- 1 in 508 applicants placed, a rate of 0.2%
- 64% of companies choose fractional or part-time structures, and 41% start at 80 hours a month
- Fewer than 4% of client partnerships end over performance dissatisfaction
- 1 in 5 clients hires additional virtual assistants after the first placement
More Than a Quarter of Rejected Job Applications Had Nothing to Do With the Candidate, VA Masters Data Shows
Human Capital Leadership Review carries a VA Masters analysis of 16,308 recorded rejection decisions, which finds that more than a quarter of rejected applications were turned down for reasons unrelated to the candidate. It also reports that resume ratings and practical test scores often point in different directions.
- 27.7% of rejections followed a role closing or being put on hold
- 35.9% failed the practical skills test, 16.8% lacked relevant experience
- Resume ratings of 1.76 and 1.71 out of 5 for those two groups, almost identical
- Practical assessment averages of 3.51 versus 2.40 out of 5 for the same two groups
- No relationship found between age and rejection
Nearly 3 in 4 VA jobs now require multiple skills, study finds
Newsbytes.PH reports on a VA Masters study of 323 roles opened by 253 companies between February and August 2026, which finds that overseas employers increasingly want Filipino virtual assistants who can cover several business functions in a single role. It also notes the growing weight of CRM, digital marketing and automation skills.
- Only 26% of positions focused on a single task
- Nearly three in four roles span two or three business functions, an average of 2.02 per role
- Administrative and operational support is the largest category at 37.9% of job orders
- Admin work increasingly combined with CRM management, social media marketing and lead generation
- Sales and business development roles filled fastest, content writing roles slowest
Industry guides & expert analysis
Leading business publications reference our data, pricing methodology, and client results in their industry guides.
How Much Does It Really Cost to Hire a Virtual Assistant in 2026? A Complete Pricing Breakdown
Pricing analysis across locations, specializations, and hiring methods, featuring our transparent rate structure and real client savings data.
- Full rate tables by role
- $4,200/mo savings case study
- Agency vs. freelancer ROI
What Tasks Can You Delegate to a Virtual Assistant? 50 Ideas Organized by Business Function
A task delegation framework for business owners, organized by department with practical examples and priority scoring methodology.
- 50 tasks across 8 departments
- Priority scoring matrix
- Role-specific recommendations
Outsourcing vs. In-House Hiring: The Real Numbers for Growing Businesses in 2026
Data-driven comparison of total hiring costs across models, featuring real case studies and the hybrid staffing framework recommended for scaling businesses.
- Side-by-side cost breakdown
- Hidden costs revealed
- Global hiring comparison
Best Virtual Assistant Agencies for Small Businesses in 2026: A Detailed Comparison
Independent side-by-side evaluation of leading VA agencies, comparing screening processes, pricing models, specializations, and ongoing client support.
- Top agencies ranked
- Vetting process comparison
- Pricing transparency review
Fresh graduates struggle as June unemployment rises to 2.59 million
Manila Bulletin's report on June 2026 Philippine jobs data cites VA Masters findings on rising overseas demand for Filipino virtual assistants.
- Unemployment rate up to 4.9% in June
- Youth unemployment rises to 978,000
- Cites the Q2 surge in global VA demand
Everything you need to write about us
Logos, boilerplate, verified figures, and a direct line to our team. Use these freely in your coverage.
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Please use the logo as supplied, without recolouring, stretching, or adding effects. Keep clear space around it equal to the height of the mark. Our name is written VA Masters, two words, both capitalised.
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VA Masters is a global recruitment agency founded in 2021 that places rigorously vetted Filipino virtual assistants with businesses across the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Europe. Over 1,000 placements to date.
Long boilerplate (88 words)
VA Masters is a global recruitment agency founded in 2021 that places highly vetted Filipino virtual assistants with businesses across the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Europe. Proprietary AI-assisted screening systems work alongside human recruiters through a six-stage vetting process that starts with over 1,000 applicants per role and presents only the top two or three, with custom skills tests built for each position. The company supports clients well beyond placement, handling onboarding, training, payroll administration and ongoing performance management for both the business and the assistant.
Founder & media contact
Alon Pearl founded VA Masters in 2021 after running into the problem himself. He was scaling a company, drowning in work he could not delegate locally at a price that made sense, and took a chance on hiring a virtual assistant remotely. That first hire is still with him six years later. What began as a personal fix became a thesis: most founders do not have a growth problem, they have a bandwidth problem, and the talent to solve it sits outside their postcode.
He now leads a team of roughly 30 across recruitment, finance, analytics and development. He writes publicly about hiring at volume, having reviewed more than 100,000 applications in a single year.
Available for comment on
- Remote hiring and screening at scale
- The economics of distributed teams
- AI in recruitment, and its limits
- The Filipino virtual assistant market
Fact sheet
- Founded2021
- Founder & CEOAlon Pearl
- Placements to date1,000+
- Applications reviewed166,350
- Monthly applications, June 202623,874
- Placement rate0.20%
- Median applicant age28
- Women among placed VAs69%
- Vetting process6 stages
- Signing to first onboarding2 days
- Average client cost savingsup to 80%
- Client satisfaction95%
- Largest marketUnited States, 69%
Media contact
Email: [email protected]
General: [email protected]
Phone: +1 (312) 766-0301
Data & report access
What business leaders say
"My first virtual assistant wasn't quite the right fit for my business, and I appreciated how the team handled it. They listened to my concerns, took the time to understand what my practice really needed, and worked hard to find a better match. The VA I have now is amazing and fits right in."
"We started with 2 VAs and have since grown the team to 4... That's freed me up to spend my time where it actually matters, building client relationships and going after the bigger opportunities, while my team takes care of the leg work."
"Our work runs through the Connect system, linking us to 150 to 200 AMC portals, so it's not the easiest thing for a new hire to pick up... Communication has been smooth throughout. VA Masters made this an easy decision, and an even easier one to stick with."
"We build custom neckties and needlepoint pieces for clients, which means design is the heart of what we do... The whole process was easy on our end, VA Masters found him, handled onboarding and the admin, and we just got to work. Three months in, he's part of how we operate."
"VA Masters made the process seamless, finding someone who truly understands our needs. If you need someone who understands digital marketing, I recommend VA Masters. It's been a game-changer for scaling our online business."
"Their team consistently delivers high-quality candidates who are not only skilled but also aligned with our company culture... their process is efficient, reliable, and tailored to our needs."
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