Insider Spotlight
The findings come from “AI in Virtual Assistant Job Requirements 2026,” a study published in September by global recruitment agency VA Masters, which analyzed 322 job openings between February and August 2026.
Based on job descriptions prepared by its recruiters and approved by clients, the study found that 23.9 percent of openings required AI capabilities, while 10.2 percent specifically mentioned an AI platform.
Why it matters
The findings highlight changing expectations in the global outsourcing industry, where Filipino freelancers increasingly compete for specialized roles requiring automation, analytical and technical expertise.
AI requirements were highest in analytics and software engineering and technology development roles, both at 44 percent, followed by writing and content creation at 43.3 percent.
Design and creative roles registered 36.7 percent, while social media management reached 35.6 percent.
Small businesses drive demand
Smaller employers are contributing significantly to the shift, with 62.7 percent of surveyed clients employing 10 workers or fewer.
Among these businesses, 26.7 percent of openings required AI capabilities, exceeding the overall average of 23.9 percent, according to a company release from VA Masters.
The findings suggest employers increasingly value workers who can combine AI tools with human judgment.
“AI wins on speed and simple, repeatable tasks,” VA Masters founder and CEO Alon Pearl said. “The moment the work needs judgment, context or catching an edge case the AI misses, a human pulls ahead fast. In our experience, the tipping point isn't task volume, it's task ambiguity. The messier the decision, the more you need a human.”
Government steps in
The Department of Information and Communications Technology launched its SPARK 2.0 program in October, offering free training in virtual assistance, AI literacy, digital marketing, analytics and other technical skills.
The initiative could help Filipino freelancers adapt as international employers increasingly seek specialized capabilities beyond traditional administrative support.
The bigger picture
VA Masters also found that automation platforms Zapier and n8n appeared in more job openings combined than ChatGPT alone, reflecting demand for integrated business workflows.
While the findings reflect the agency's recruitment database rather than the entire virtual assistant employment market, they indicate how AI proficiency could become an increasingly important competitive advantage for Filipino freelancers. — Princess Daisy C. Ominga | Ed: Corrie S. Narisma
