In certain instances, we may earn revenue when a reader makes a purchase or completes a form through our pages or on a partner’s website. We adhere to a strict Forget boring Zoom calls and endless email threads: the virtual workspace is evolving into something far more immersive. Think shared digital rooms, lifelike avatars, and real-time chats, all inside a virtual office online.
Recent YouGov data shows this idea is catching on, especially in the US, where many professionals say they’d rather work in a virtual room than go into a physical office. In Great Britain (GB), though, most still lean toward the traditional office.
Here’s what the numbers say about how we might work next.
Key Takeaways
- Attitudes toward a virtual office vary by country, age, and current work setup.
- In the US, 40% of office-based workers say they’d rather work in a virtual office online than go into a physical office, while only 14% in GB feel the same.
- Interest in virtual setups is highest among younger professionals, especially those aged 18 to 29 in the US.
- Among all US adults surveyed, 33% say they’d pick a VR option over a traditional office.
- Support for virtual offices drops with age, falling to just 18% among those aged 65 and older.
What Is a Virtual Office?
A virtual office is a digital setup that helps people work together without being in the same place. The idea is to bring teams into one shared space online, so they can talk, plan, and meet just like they would in a regular office.
You don’t need to jump between different apps. Everything happens in one place, and everyone can feel present, even when they’re not sitting in the same room.
A virtual office can include tools like:
- Virtual meeting rooms, spaces where team members can meet and chat
- Cloud-hosted desktops
- Online status indicators and real-time messages
- Virtual reality (VR) workspaces with avatars and 3D layouts
Quick note on how we’re using the term in this article:
Sometimes, a virtual office just means working remotely with email and video calls. But in this article, we’re talking about something more immersive: a virtual office you enter with a VR headset. You put it on, and suddenly you’re in a shared digital environment where it feels like your team is right there with you.
This setup is what the YouGov data focused on. It’s not common yet, but it’s already getting a lot of attention, especially among younger professionals.
The US vs. GB: Two Very Different Takes on the Virtual Workspace
The idea of working in a virtual workspace is getting more attention, but views still vary widely depending on location.
Meanwhile, 37% of people still preferred being in the office, interacting with people as usual, with no headset required, with 30% feeling unsure which option they prefer.
However, in Great Britain, only 19% of adults said they would choose a virtual office setup. Most (51%) still preferred going into work in person, while 30% were unsure.
The contrast is striking:
- US workers seem more curious about digital solutions and flexible setups
- GB workers tend to stick with what they know and trust
- Tech habits, company culture, and daily routines likely shape these opinions
While interest in virtual workplaces is higher in the US, that doesn’t mean everyone is ready to make the change. Even there, many professionals still prefer structure and face-to-face interaction.
That becomes even more obvious when you compare people based on how they currently work.
Remote vs. Non-Remote: How Your Work Setup Shapes Your View
How people feel about the virtual workspace often depends on how they work now.
You might think remote workers would be the most open to VR, but the data points to something different.
Among US professionals who still go into the office, nearly half (40%) said they’d rather work from home using a VR headset.
This suggests that even those who don’t work remotely are thinking about change. For some, the idea of a virtual office offers a new kind of balance – no commute, but still a clear structure to the day.
At the same time:
- 46% of Americans who work at the office said they still prefer going into a physical office
- 15% said they’re unsure what they’d pick
In GB, the split is even clearer. Among office-going professionals:
- 69% said they’d stick with the traditional office
- Only 14% said they’d make the switch to a VR-based virtual office
- 17% felt unsure which option they’d prefer
Many people like the routine of an office, but don’t love the time it takes to get there; others enjoy working from home but miss the team energy. A virtual workspace might seem like a possible way to get both.
As ideas around work continue to change, people are thinking less about choosing one extreme and more about finding something that fits their life better.
Why Younger Workers Are Driving the Shift
Younger professionals are showing the most interest in the virtual workplace, and the data clearly reflects that.
Support for virtual setups drops as the age group goes up:
- 31% of those aged 45 to 64 say they would pick the VR option
- Among workers aged 65 and over, just 18% feel the same way
There are a few reasons for this:
- Younger people are more used to gaming and digital platforms
- They often want more flexible schedules and less time commuting
- They’re also more at ease with using avatars and joining a virtual room to meet with others
As this generation takes on more roles, interest in the virtual workplace is likely to keep rising.
What’s Next for the Virtual Workplace?
VR tools are getting more attention in the workplace, with many people curious about how they could improve remote meetings, team catchups, or onboarding.
Still, there are a few things holding people back:
- Many don’t have access to the right equipment
- Some feel dizzy or tired after using a headset
- Older professionals are often less familiar with VR and may find it harder to adjust
A few teams are already using virtual rooms to meet and collaborate. These spaces can feel more interactive than a regular video call, but that alone won’t be enough to change habits.
For a virtual workspace to work well, it has to feel useful. It should help people stay focused and connected, not make things more complicated, which means fewer distractions, smoother tools, and easy ways to check in with your team.
To get more people on board, VR tools need to do more than look impressive; they need to make the day run smoother. If the experience feels clear, practical, and easy to use, more workers across different age groups may be encouraged to try it.
The Bottom Line
The virtual workspace is gaining interest, especially among younger workers who want more freedom in how they work.
But for wider adoption, a virtual office space needs to offer more than just novelty; it has to support real teamwork and daily tasks without getting in the way.
If it feels useful and easy to navigate, more people may be open to giving it a proper try.
