A new Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) analysis has found that almost half (49%) the people in the United States own a wearable device. Of those, 45% own a fitness band. Beyond fitness, overall wellness is also important to consumers. They want wearables to help them:
- Live 10 years longer: 70% (up 14 percent from 2014)
- Reduce commute times: 66% (up 9 percent from 2014)
- Maintain a healthy weight: 63% (up 18 percent from 2014)
- Pay less in insurance premium: 62% (up 9 percent from 2014)
- Wearable screens to watch TV at least half the time: 61% (up 8 percent from 2014)
- Facial recognition: 61% (up 8 percent from 2014)
- Wearable glasses and hearables tell us about the people around us: 59% (up 12 percent from 2014)
- All clothing is internet connected: 54% (up 18 percent from 2014)
Read more ACSM Survey: Wearable Tech is New Top Fitness Trend for 2019
The type of wearable device used by the consumers are:
- Fitness band: 45%
- Smartwatch: 27%
- Smartglasses: 15%
- Smart video/photo device: 14%
- Smart clothes: 12%
- 79% of Employers offers Wellness Programs
Wellness is also a priority for employers, according to the PwC analysis. In fact, wellness is more popular overall than disease management, reports PwC.
And, in keeping with the overall focus on wellness, flexible workplaces are now the norm.
Read more Wearables Market to grow to $27 Billion with 137 Million Units Sold in 2022
Flexible workplaces are essential for busy working parents, who also are early adopters of wearables, according to PwC analysis—with health being the primary reason for their high adoption rates.
62% of parents own a wearable device against 41% of non-parents. And why do they use wearables?
- Health: 85%
- Tech proficiency: 80%
- Parenting: 77%
Meanwhile, millennials (aged 22-35) and mature Generation Z consumers (aged 17-21) got a jump on wellness during the holiday break by taking adventure and spa vacations.
And some shoppers zeroed in on health and fitness retailers for their holiday shopping.
The future is most definitely wearable, as consumers show high levels of interest in bioelectric sensors and safety-monitoring devices, all aimed at living healthier, safer, more productive lives.
