Workforce data shows where remote work happens and who reports it, while leaving room for role-level evidence. A buyer comparing a virtual assistant with another staffing option needs a baseline. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 17.4 million people in office and administrative support occupations in its 2025 annual time-use table, and 28.6% worked at home on an average day. That is an occupation-level observation, not a claim about any one provider.
Remote worker geography and demographics: what the data shows
The BLS table describes people who worked on their main job during an average day in 2025. It reports occupation groups, class of worker, place of work, and hours. It does not tell a buyer whether a person is a contractor, agency-supported assistant, or employee, and it does not score output quality.
Key stats
Verified August 11, 2026Key takeaways
- The occupation is large enough to support specialization, but the table does not measure quality or a specific assistant.
- Remote work is already part of administrative work, yet home-based hours are not the same as full-time remote employment.
- A staffing decision should compare the work sample, access needs, and review burden rather than rely on a remote label.
How a buyer should read the finding
The number is useful as a labor-market context point. It says remote administrative work is observable at scale, while leaving the buyer to test the variables that determine fit: accuracy, judgment, communication, schedule overlap, and the amount of manager review.
What the number cannot prove
A one-day time-use average cannot predict a role’s cost, retention, or productivity. It also cannot establish that a virtual assistant will perform a buyer’s tasks without training. Treat it as a baseline for a staffing conversation, not as a promise.
Consolidated statistics
| Measure | Finding | Limit or use |
|---|---|---|
| Measure | Observed result | How to use it |
| Occupation size | 17.4 million people | Context for specialization |
| At-home share | 28.6% on an average day | Context for remote feasibility |
| Home hours | 6.02 hours among those at home | Do not confuse with full-time remote work |
For a related buyer context, read the remote work prevalence research. For a second comparison, see the occupation wage research.
Methodology and limits
Facts were checked against the linked public sources on August 11, 2026. Findings include the unit, period, population, and source context available in each register. Survey and incident datasets can be revised or sampled, and none predicts an individual provider, worker, or buyer outcome.
Frequently asked questions
Does the BLS table measure virtual assistants?
No. It measures the broader office and administrative support occupation group. It is useful context, not a count of agency or freelance virtual assistants.
Does working at home mean a job is fully remote?
No. The table measures an average day. A worker can split time between home and a workplace.
What should a buyer verify next?
Ask for a role-specific work sample and define how accuracy, handoffs, and decisions will be reviewed.
Sources
10 visible sources, verified August 11, 2026
- BLS time-use table 7, 2025
- BLS occupational outlook, office support
- BLS secretaries and administrative assistants
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
- BLS American Time Use Survey
- Census BTOS about
- Census BTOS methodology
- DOL worker classification
- IRS worker classification
- NIST small business quick start
A practical next step
Use the evidence as a starting point, then compare one defined role with a safe work sample and a named review owner. A free consultation can help scope that comparison without treating a public statistic as a promise.
