A former office worker, the 32-year-old said she’s now earning five times as much serving as the “right hand” of employers for whom she writes copy, manages social media and even buys family birthday gifts.
Government figures for the sector are unavailable as the role falls into no recognised job category, meaning legal protections are also effectively non-existent.
But Derek Gallimore, of advisory firm Outsource Accelerator, estimates the number of Filipino virtual assistants at around a million – a number he expects to grow.
“It’s the assumption that they can call their own shots, have more freedom and earn more money,” Gallimore said of the job’s allure, adding the reality may not always meet expectations.
Job-seeking platform Upwork lists the Philippines among the top five countries churning out virtual assistants, alongside India, Nigeria, Pakistan and the United States.
“We expect the growth of virtual assistant work in the Philippines to continue,” said Teng Liu, an economist at Upwork Research Institute.
Filipinos’ English proficiency made them a “strong fit” for global clients, he added, with Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States among the biggest markets.
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