VR training is generating a lot of hype at the moment. But is it really the next big thing in workforce development? Or is this just another fad without a basis in reality?
To put it simply, VR training has proven to be a valuable investment for many organizations. We’ve gathered 22 statistics from credible sources that will show you just how effective VR training can be.
Let’s dive in.
22 VR Training Statistics for Forward-Thinking Industry Leaders
In a rush? Here’s a quick overview of the key VR training stats you need to know.
VR Training Market Growth and Adoption Stats
- Impact on the global economy: VR training is projected to add $294 billion to the global economy by 2030 (Source: PwC).
- Familiarity with VR training: 50% of HR professionals are familiar with VR training, rising to 66% among tech-savvy companies (Source: Statista).
VR Training Efficiency Stats
- Delta Air Lines’ increased training capacity: VR training boosted technician training by 5,000% (Source: Delta & ArborXR).
- UPS reduced training time: VR training cut training time by 75%, from 8 to 2 hours (Source: UPS & ArborXR).
- XR training for plumbers: Plumbers trained in XR to replace toilets are able to work 17% faster and with 12% better accuracy (Source: SoftServe).
- Olivia Bistro reduced training hours: Training times dropped from 30-40 hours to 3-6 hours (Source: Olivia Bistro, Smooth Soft & ArborXR).
VR Training Employee Performance and Retention Stats
- Employee retention boost at Indiana DCS: VR training increased retention by 31% (Source: Indiana DCS).
- Retention boost with Deloitte: Companies using VR can increase employee retention by up to 50% (Source: Deloitte).
- Performance improvement with VR: VR training improves employee performance by 40% (Source: PwC).
- Retention rate after VR training: Employees usually forget 70% of what they learned via traditional training within a day and about 90% within a month. In contrast, VR training can help employees retain up to 80% of the information even after a year. (Source: Accenture & PwC).
VR Training Knowledge Retention and Confidence Stats
- Retail retention rates: Retail associates trained with VR showed a 10-15% increase in retention compared to those trained with traditional methods (Source: Accenture).
- Confidence boost at Bank of America: At Bank of America, 97% of employees felt confident in applying VR-learned knowledge (Source: Bank of America & ArborXR).
- Confidence increase with Moth+Flame: Companies using Moth+Flame VR training content have found that 90% of employees feel significantly more confident after using VR training (Source: Moth+Flame).
- Emotional connection with VR: VR learners are 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content (Source: PwC).
VR Training Cost Savings Stats
- Cost comparison of training methods: Traditional training costs $229.79 per person, while VR costs $327.78 per person, dropping to $115.43 over three years (Source: Strivr).
- Delta Air Lines cost savings: Millions saved by reducing deicing fluid costs with VR de-icing training (Source: Delta & ArborXR).
VR Training Safety Improvement Stats
- Safety improvements with QinetiQ: VR training reduced lost time injury rates by 43% and increased coal production by 25% (Source: QinetiQ).
- Reduction in workplace injuries: VR training reduced workplace injuries by 45% (Source: University of Maryland VR Study).
VR Trainee Experience Stats
- VR for future learning: 88% of participants wanted to continue using VR (Source: Deloitte).
- Positive feedback on VR: 96% of participants had a positive or very positive view of VR for learning (Source: Deloitte).
- Comfort during VR training: 90% of participants felt comfortable during the training, thanks to a safe and supportive environment provided by the program team (Source: Deloitte).
- Employee satisfaction increase: Retail associates trained with VR reported 30% higher employee satisfaction (Source: Accenture).
Keep reading for a bit of commentary on what these stats mean, as well as additional insights into successfully implementing a VR training program of your own.
VR Training Market Growth and Adoption Statistics
The VR training market is booming, with more industries adopting it at a rapid pace.
PwC forecasts that VR training will contribute $294 billion to the global economy by 2030. That’s quite the forecast for the VR training market—and it’s easy to see why. Companies using VR training are achieving great results. So, many others are eager to get in on the action.But how’s adoption shaping up so far? A 2022 survey by Statista found that 50% of HR and workforce learning professionals are highly familiar with VR training, with that number rising to 66% among tech-savvy companies. Given how the market has grown since then, familiarity has definitely seen strong growth as well.
In our experience, we’re also seeing more companies embracing VR training. We’ve worked with over 3,000 organizations, including 50+ Fortune 500 companies, to launch and scale various VR initiatives, including training. Popular industries include:
- Retail
- Construction
- Aviation
- Healthcare
- Manufacturing
Some notable companies we’ve worked with to implement VR training include Bank of America, Delta, UPS, Walmart, and Pfizer.
Training Efficiency
VR training offers faster proficiency, better engagement, and greater scalability. Here are a few stats that show just how powerful it can be:
- After switching from traditional to VR training, Delta went from training just three technicians a day to over 150—an increase of nearly 5000% in training capacity.
- UPS moved from mentor-led driver training to fully immersive VR training, cutting training time by 75%, from 8 hours to just 2, without sacrificing effectiveness.
- In a study on toilet replacement training, plumbers who learned through VR completed tasks 17% faster and with 12% better accuracy compared to those trained via video.
- Olivia Bistro also saw training times drop from 30-40 hours to just 3-6 hours, and they trained 100 employees in 12 months using VR.
Employee Performance and Retention
94% of employees are more likely to stay with a company that offers strong training and development programs. But are most companies meeting this need? Not quite—over 90% of executives admit they need to improve their employee training.
VR training can help fast-track this improvement by better-preparing employees for various tasks and improving overall job performance, satisfaction, and loyalty.
Here are some compelling stats:
- The Indiana Department of Child Services used VR to help staff role-play emotionally charged scenarios, preparing them for real-world challenges. This resulted in a 31% boost in employee retention. Before this, they were losing over $72 million due to high turnover.
- Deloitte research shows that companies using VR training can increase employee retention by up to 50%.
- A PwC report also found that businesses using VR see a 40% improvement in employee performance. Along with the immersive, hands-on experience, learners are also four times more focused in a VR setting, leading to better understanding and easier application of skills on the job.
Knowledge Retention and Confidence
VR gives learners a hands-on experience where they make decisions, face real-life consequences, and can repeat scenarios as needed. This active learning approach helps people remember what they’ve learned. The beauty is that they don’t just remember—they feel very confident in applying it when the need arises.
- Traditional methods like lectures and videos often lead to poor knowledge retention. Even after spending over $1,300 per employee on training, people usually forget 70% of what they learned within a day and about 90% within a month. In contrast, VR training can help employees retain up to 80% of the information even after a year.
- According to an Accenture report, retail associates trained with VR showed a 10-15% increase in retention compared to those trained with traditional methods.
- 97% of Bank of America employees who went through VR training felt very confident in applying their new knowledge.
Soft Skills and Confidence
Soft skills training can be challenging because it often requires a lot of practice and real-life interactions to master. VR is offering a promising solution, and the results have been impressive so far.
- Companies using Moth+Flame VR training content have found that 90% of employees feel significantly more confident in their skills after completing the training.
- PwC research also shows that VR learners feel 3.75 times more emotionally connected to the content compared to traditional classroom learners. This emotional connection is necessary for effective soft skills mastery.
Cost Savings
VR training greatly reduces the need for travel, specialized training spaces, or large investments in tutors. This makes it a more cost-effective option than traditional training in the long run.
- Although VR training has a higher initial cost—$327.78 per person compared to $229.79 for traditional methods—it becomes more economical over time. When scaled over three years, the cost drops to $115.43 per person. This is because once you create a VR training module, you can use it repeatedly for thousands of trainees.
- Delta Airlines used to spend $500 per foot of deicing fluid during staff training, which was expensive and resource-intensive. By switching to VR training for its deicing teams, Delta significantly reduced fluid consumption and saved millions of dollars annually.
Safety Improvements
VR training enables employees to learn about safety in a risk-free environment. This helps boost their hazard awareness and prepares them for dangerous situations they might encounter.
- QinetiQ launched a Coal Mine Safety VR Training program, which lets workers practice handling various risky scenarios safely. As a result, QinetiQ reduced their lost time injury rates by 43%. Remarkably, during this time, they also increased their workforce by 62% and boosted coal production by 25%.
- A study from the University of Maryland’s Virtual Lab found that VR training leads to a significant 45% reduction in workplace injuries and accidents compared to traditional training methods.
Trainee Experience
We’ve been discussing how VR training can transform your training programs, but what do trainees actually think about it? Let’s hear from the horse’s mouth.
According to a Deloitte survey:
- 88% of participants wanted to use VR for future learning, appreciating the hands-on, practical experience it provides.
- 96% had a positive or very positive view of VR for learning.
- 90% felt comfortable during the VR training, thanks to a safe and supportive environment provided by the program team.
Also, according to Accenture, retail associates trained with VR reported 30% higher employee satisfaction.
VR Training: A Smart Move for Forward-Thinking Enterprises
VR training is a proven impact driver across industries, at companies large and small.
It boosts knowledge retention, enhances employee performance, and cuts down training costs, making it an essential tool for businesses looking to stay ahead. Ready to take your training programs to the next level? You’ll also need to think about how you’ll manage your fleet of VR headsets and content.
That’s where a reliable VR MDM like ArborXR comes in handy.
ArborXR helps you deploy and manage your headsets efficiently, install content, send updates, and monitor user activity within the VR environment. Some of its key features include:
- Device management: Track device health, battery status, and control settings like WiFi, factory resets, and reboots—all from a single dashboard.
- Content management: Sideload third-party content, receive updates directly from developers, and distribute content at scale.
- Single and multi-app kiosk mode: Lock users into one or multiple apps easily.
See how ArborXR can simplify headset management first-hand. Sign up for a 30-day trial and take it for a spin.