75% of People Are Interested in Working in the Metaverse Full-Time

Immersive technologies, especially virtual reality (VR), are seeing massive experimentation and applications across brands and business functions. According to StatistaOpens a new window , the VR market is expected to grow from less than $5 billion in 2021 to more than $12 billion by 2024. However, while various business functions are experimenting with VR to transform several aspects, the technology hasn’t seen much uptake concerning the workspace. That said, VR technology offers enormous opportunities to transform the workplace. Just like people are getting used to working in a remote or hybrid setting, they may eventually have an opportunity to work by immersing themselves in a VR office space. With VR already being used to train employees more safely, faster, and with fewer resources, a VR-enabled workspace may soon become a reality.

OSlash recently conducted a study to understand what people think about working in a VR and the metaverse. Here are a few insights into what people think of a VR-enabled workspace and how it could affect them.

See more: Using Virtual Reality To Improve Training Processes

People Hesitate To Use VR Headsets

When we talk about VR, the first gadget we probably think about is the headset. While these headsets are a promising workplace technology, the study found that many of them were not using them for work. About 61% of the respondents said they bought VR headsets to play games. About 41% bought them to watch movies, and 38% purchased them for work. 

Why did people initially purchase VR headsets?

Source: 2022 OSlash SurveyOpens a new window

The study also found that many people hesitated to use VR headsets despite the benefits the latter offered. For example, the immersive experiences offered by the headset enable people to cut out any distractions while working. However, like jobs involving long screen time have downsides, jobs wearing VR headsets, too, have a few disadvantages. According to the American Academy of OpthalmologyOpens a new window , staring at a VR screen for too long can result in fatigue and eye strain. Most of the respondents who were reluctant to use virtual reality, too, cited dizziness, eye strain, and other health problems as the top concerns.

People Think VR Will Positively Impact the Healthcare Industry

While people are concerned about the adverse effects on health, 40% of people thought the healthcare industry had the biggest potential for being positively impacted by adopting VR technology. In fact, the medical community predicts virtual reality as an aid that could help people suffering from chronic pain. A few small studiesOpens a new window indicate that using VR for even 30 minutes can lower the pain involved in childbirth. VR may also see applications in other forms of treatment.

Besides healthcare, the implementation of VR is expected to benefit other industries, such as tourism (35%), entertainment (33%), fashion (30%), and even automotive (29%).

The study also found that 30% of respondents actually used virtual reality for work. Simultaneously, many also look forward to the technology’s positive impact on their workplace. For example, 30% of survey respondents who use VR for work cited enhanced productivity. One anticipated benefit of VR was learning and development programs for employees, according to 45% of the respondents. Another expected advantage is improved connection and collaboration (44%). 

Aspects of business that have benefitted or may benefit from implementing VR

Source: 2022 OSlash SurveyOpens a new window

However, while VR demonstrated certain benefits, just 21% of people whose workplaces integrated the technology work for small companies. They may possibly be looking at larger companies to see how it works out for them before investing in the technology.

VR Skills Improve Hireability

With all the talk about VR transforming industries, businesses, and the workplace, how many people are actively seeking to grow in it? 

While 39% of respondents felt overwhelmed at the prospect of VR at work, about 27% felt excited. Further, 66% were currently employed or looking for employment in VR. About 10% also said they worked in the metaverse full-time, and 75% were interested in doing so. 

So, does having a job or skills in the metaverse make employees more attractive to prospective employers? A whopping 81% said ‘Yes.’ And employers seem to agree with it. About 80% of hiring managers said having an understanding of the metaverse and VR gives applicants an edge over others. Furthermore, 81% said they already included VR knowledge as a skill in their job postings.

See more: How AR/VR Is Driving Automation and Robotics for Manufacturers

Will the Virtual Workspace Become a Reality?

Virtual reality may be looked upon as a form of entertainment for now. But businesses are finding more applications and use cases for VR and the metaverse. More industries and sectors are expected to benefit from the technology. And while some people may be overwhelmed and focus on the downside of VR and the metaverse, people seeking opportunities and hiring managers seem enthusiastic about it. It may be just a matter of time before a VR- and metaverse-driven workspace becomes a reality.

How do you think virtual reality and the metaverse will affect the workspace? Share with us on FacebookOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , and LinkedInOpens a new window .

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