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VR Stats for the Training & Education Industry in 2024

December 22, 2023 - Izaskun Olarreaga

Virtual Reality (VR) has come a long way since its inception, evolving from a niche technology to a mainstream phenomenon that touches various aspects of our lives.

Let’s dive into the latest VR statistics and explore the fascinating insights that highlight its growth, impact, and potential across the training and education industry.

The VR landscape in numbers

1. Sustained growth on the horizon: Projections indicate that between 2024 and 2028, we can expect an increase of 5.5 million VR headsets, signifying a substantial growth rate of approximately 25.28 percent.

As this growth pattern persists, the VR headsets market is slated to achieve a new pinnacle in 2028. The estimated volume is 27.25 million headsets. (Statista)

VR market size over time

2. VR adoption among US adults: Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the United States has experienced VR technology, indicating its increasing penetration into mainstream society. (MarketSplash)

3. Gaming dominates VR usage: For 64% of VR users, gaming remains the primary attraction. However, VR’s appeal extends beyond gaming, with 52% citing TV and movies, 42% mentioning sports, and 38% finding value in social media experiences. (MarketSplash)

4. Frequency of VR usage: While VR offers captivating experiences, only 28% of VR headset owners use their devices daily. The majority, 39%, utilize VR on a weekly basis, while 19% engage with it monthly. An interesting statistic reveals that merely 6% of users use VR annually. (MarketSplash)

Statistic: Gamers' usage frequency of virtual reality and augmented reality (VR and AR)) devices in the United States as of 2018 | Statista

5. The expanding VR market: The global VR market size reached an impressive $22.9 billion by the close of 2020. Analysts predict that this market’s value will continue to soar, projected to reach a staggering $50.3 billion by 2028. (MarketSplash)

6. AR/VR in Forbes’ most valuable brands: A remarkable 75% of Forbes World’s Most Valuable Brands have invested in AR/VR experiences, underlining the strategic importance of these technologies for leading global brands. (YouVisit)

Extended Reality (XR) revolution

7. Job creation in XR: XR technology, an encompassing term for VR and AR (Augmented Reality), is not only reshaping industries but also creating economic opportunities. Currently, XR supports approximately 80,000 jobs, and it’s estimated that this number will surge to 2.3 million roles by 2030. (XR Today)

8. Key growth sectors: Beyond gaming, XR is making significant strides in workforce development, manufacturing, automotive, marketing, and advertising, with growth rates of 24%, 21%, 19%, and 16% respectively. Engineers, in particular, are benefiting from VR with a 10% reduction in time to market and a 7% decrease in construction times. (XR Today)

9. Industrial impact: A noteworthy 75% of industrial companies implementing large-scale VR and AR technologies reported a 10% increase in operations. The number of U.S. jobs utilizing AR or VR is projected to reach 2.32 million by 2030, indicating the technology’s transformative potential in various sectors. (Zippia)

VR in training and education

10. Marker size: The virtual reality in education market is expected to undergo substantial expansion, with its global market size forecasted to increase from $4.40 billion in 2023 to reach $28.70 billion by 2030. This growth is anticipated to occur at an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 30.7% over the forecast period. (Fortune Business Insights)

11. VR enhances learning: VR is reshaping the way we learn. VR training has been found to drive a remarkable 76% increase in learning effectiveness compared to traditional methods. Employees can be trained four times faster in VR courses than in classrooms, revolutionizing workforce development. (Finance Online)

12. Improving soft skills with VR: VirtualSpeech found that 95% of participants who practiced in VR said it helped them prepare better for real-world situations in the workplace, such as sales pitches and negotiations. (VirtualSpeech)

13. VR increases confidence: Learners who undergo VR training demonstrate up to a 275% increase in confidence to apply what they’ve learned, surpassing classroom and e-learning by 40% and 35%, respectively. This underscores VR’s effectiveness in reinforcing knowledge. (PwC)

14. VR learners are more emotionally connected: VR learners report feeling 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the training content than those in traditional classrooms and 2.3 times more connected than e-learners. This emotional connection can lead to better retention and application of knowledge. (PwC)

VR learners are more emotionally connected

15. Distractions are reduced: In a VR learning environment, distractions are significantly reduced. VR immerses users in simulations, capturing their full attention with no room for multitasking. As a result, VR-trained employees are up to four times more focused during training compared to their e-learning counterparts and 1.5 times more focused than classroom learners. Enhanced focus contributes to better learning outcomes. (PwC)

16. Better results: Immersion in a VR experience tends to yield more profound training results, making learning more effective and impactful. (PwC)

17. Cost effectiveness: VR training reaches cost parity with classroom learning at 375 learners. With 3,000 learners, VR training becomes 52% more cost-effective than classroom training. At 1,950 learners, VR training matches the cost of e-learning. These findings highlight the cost-efficiency of VR training, especially when implemented on a larger scale. (PwC)

Cost effectiveness of VR training

18. Surgeons benefit from VR: The medical field is embracing VR as well. Surgeons trained using VR make 40% fewer mistakes than their conventionally trained peers, demonstrating its potential for precision and safety in healthcare. (Finance Online)

19. Mining safety with VR training: The introduction of VR safety training in the mining industry has resulted in a remarkable 43% reduction in lost time due to injuries. This demonstrates the significant impact of VR in enhancing safety measures in mining operations. (Minesafe International Conference)

20. Enhanced welding performance with VR: Students who utilized VR training for welding achieved outstanding results, with 100% of them performing better on welding tests compared to students who received traditional training methods. (Iowa State University)

21. Enhanced interview skills with VR: VirtualSpeech found that students were 85% more confident for job interviews after practicing in VR for 25 minutes or more. (VirtualSpeech)

The consumer perspective

22. Consumer expectations: When it comes to choosing a VR headset, consumers prioritize features such as good image resolution (52%), comfortable headsets and controllers (44%), high-quality audio (39%), and an easy, intuitive setup. These factors underscore the importance of user experience in driving VR adoption. (G2)

23. Diverse VR usage: VR finds its place in various activities. For instance, 35% of VR headset owners use it for workouts or exercise, while 22% harness its capabilities for creative endeavors like music, video, or art creation. (G2)

24. Hurdles to mass VR adoption: According to VR adoption statistics from 2022, 20% of experts point to customer and business hesitation as a key hurdle in embracing VR. An additional 19% highlight the VR industry’s struggle to offer compelling content. (Capgemini)

Conclusion

In conclusion, the VR landscape in 2024 is characterized by impressive growth, diverse applications, and transformative potential across industries. As VR and XR technologies continue to evolve, they promise to reshape our world and redefine how we learn, work, and entertain ourselves.

With these statistics in mind, we can look forward to an exciting future where the boundaries of reality are continually expanded by the immersive power of VR.

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