Typing has evolved into one of the most essential workplace skills. Whether crafting emails, creating reports, or documenting key data points, good typing speed is a cornerstone of efficiency and productivity.
For recruiters, understanding the value of this skill can significantly impact hiring decisions, ensuring candidates can meet modern workplace demands.
The transition to remote and hybrid work environments has further underscored the importance of typing skills. According to a recent study, 63% of American jobs require standard typing proficiency, with many roles demanding accuracy and speed as critical elements of job performance. From administrative tasks to customer service and data entry, typing is no longer a supplementary skill—it’s foundational.
A candidate with a good typing speed contributes more effectively to workplace productivity. For instance:
- Faster Completion of Tasks: Employees with higher typing speeds complete tasks 30–50% faster than those with slower speeds.
- Reduced Error Rates: Studies show that individuals who type at higher speeds tend to make fewer errors, as they have developed a stronger focus on accuracy.
For hiring managers and recruiters, evaluating typing skills is crucial in identifying candidates who can thrive in roles requiring frequent communication, documentation, or data processing. A lack of typing proficiency can lead to:
- Delays in meeting deadlines.
- Increased stress levels among employees struggling to keep up with the pace of work.
- Errors that can negatively impact overall work quality.
What is Typing Speed?
Typing speed is a measure of how quickly a person can type words using a keyboard, traditionally expressed in Words Per Minute (WPM). A single "word" is standardized as five keystrokes, including letters, numbers, spaces, and punctuation. Typing speed is not just about speed but also accuracy, as even fast typists lose efficiency if their output is riddled with errors.
Typing speed is commonly evaluated on two primary metrics:
- Words Per Minute (WPM): Measures the number of words typed within a minute.
- Accuracy Percentage: Reflects how many words or characters were typed correctly without errors.
For example:
- 60 WPM at 95% accuracy is considered a competent speed for general tasks.
- In professional settings, especially in content-heavy roles, speeds of 70–90 WPM are ideal.
What are the Different Types of Typing Skills?
1. Touch Typing
Touch typing refers to the typing technique where the typist is using the keyboard while primarily looking at the screen. Here the typist has developed an enhanced muscle memory of using they keyboard to the extent where he is able to recognize key placements on the keyboard without looking at them.
Touch typing is known to be the most productive form of typing technique as the typist is able to focus on the content being written as well and the typing with absolute ease.
2. Home Row Typing
Under home row form of typing, the typist directs his focus on the home row keys on the keyboard which includes the home row keys A, S, D, F on the left and J, K, L, ; on the right.
These help the typist determine placement of other keys keeping these keys as central. This technique can enhance access and speed when using different keys spread throughout the keyboard.
3. Hunt and Peck Technique
Hunt and peck technique involves complete focus on the keyboard instead of the screen when typing. It is a two-finger typing technique where the index figure press key on the keyboard.
Due to more concentration being excreted on the keyboard rather than the screen, this is known to be the slowest form of typing.
4. Hybrid Typing
This form of typing incorporates focus on both the screen and the keyboard. Here the typist uses muscle memory for familiar keys and hunts when using unfamiliar keys.
This technique in a way marks the beginning of a moderate typing speed, and can be significantly improved from there on.
What is a Good Typing Speed?
A good typing speed can vary depending on industry standards, job roles, and the nature of work. For general tasks such as emailing or note-taking, a speed between 40–60 WPM is typically sufficient. In more professional roles, especially those involving content creation or data entry, speeds of 70–90 WPM are ideal.
1. Benchmarks Across Industries
Here are some commonly recognized benchmarks for typing speed based on professional contexts:
- Administrative Roles: 50–60 WPM for roles such as office assistants, where moderate typing is essential for documentation and communication.
- Content Writing & Marketing: 70–90 WPM for content creators, journalists, and digital marketers who often handle long-form content.
- Data Entry Specialists: 80–100 WPM with a focus on accuracy, given the high-volume input required in these roles.
- Customer Support Agents: 60–80 WPM for live chat or email support to handle queries quickly and efficiently.
Stat Spotlight: Studies show that top-performing employees in data-heavy roles type at least 20% faster than their peers, improving output quality and quantity.
2. Typing Speed Based on Job Roles
Job Role-Specific Expectations:
- Writers and Editors: Speed matters less than accuracy. However, a typical benchmark is 70–80 WPM, ensuring they meet deadlines without sacrificing quality.
- Programmers: For coders and developers, speed can be secondary to precision, but proficiency at 40–60 WPM is considered good.
- Managers and Leaders: Typing speeds of 50–60 WPM suffice for emails, reports, and presentations, with an emphasis on clear and effective communication.
3. Global Typing Speed Statistics
Understanding global norms can help organizations set realistic expectations for their candidates.
- The global average typing speed is approximately 38–40 WPM, according to surveys conducted across industries.
- Professional typists, such as transcriptionists or stenographers, achieve speeds exceeding 90 WPM, with top performers reaching over 120 WPM.
Fun Fact: The Guinness World Record for typing speed is held by Barbara Blackburn, who reached a peak of 212 WPM using a Dvorak keyboard layout!
4. How Typing Speed Impacts Job Success
While a "good" typing speed may vary, achieving speeds above the industry standard offers several advantages:
- Improved Job Performance: Faster typists complete tasks more efficiently, freeing up time for complex problem-solving or strategic work.
- Increased Job Prospects: Candidates with faster typing skills are often preferred for roles requiring data entry, content creation, or customer support.
Why Accuracy Matters as Much as Speed?
Speed without accuracy can result in errors that affect productivity and credibility. Recruiters must look for a balance:
- Typing accuracy should be at least 95% or higher to qualify as proficient.
- High-speed typists with low accuracy may spend more time correcting errors, negating the benefits of speed.
Pro Tip for Recruiters: Evaluate candidates on both speed and accuracy using professional typing assessment tools to ensure they meet job requirements effectively.
For recruiters, a good typing speed isn’t just about hitting a number—it’s about aligning candidate skills with job demands. Assessing and nurturing this skill ensures a workforce that’s efficient, communicative, and capable of thriving in today’s fast-paced digital environment.
How Recruiters Can Leverage Typing Tests?
For recruiters, typing tests serve multiple purposes:
- Screening Candidates: Pre-employment typing tests filter candidates with suitable speed and accuracy levels.
- Identifying Training Needs: Tests can highlight skill gaps, enabling targeted upskilling programs.
- Evaluating Role Fit: Tailored tests align candidates’ abilities with job-specific requirements.
Importance of the Good Typing Speed in the Workplace?
Typing speed plays a pivotal role in almost every modern workplace. Whether drafting emails, creating reports, or collaborating with teams, the ability to type quickly and accurately can make a measurable difference in productivity, efficiency, and communication quality. Here's an in-depth look at why good typing speed is indispensable for today's workforce:
1. Enhancing Productivity and Efficiency
A good typing speed helps employees complete tasks more quickly, leaving more time for higher-value activities. For example:
- A professional who types at 70 WPM compared to the average 40 WPM can save approximately 1.5 hours per day on tasks requiring 3 hours of continuous typing.
- Over a month, this efficiency translates to saving nearly 30 hours, allowing for a significant productivity boost.
Stat Spotlight: Employees with good typing speeds contribute to a 15-20% higher task completion rate in data-driven industries such as finance, IT, and marketing.
2. Improving Communication
Typing is the backbone of modern workplace communication, from emails to instant messaging. Employees with faster typing speeds can:
- Respond to queries more promptly.
- Draft clearer, more detailed messages in less time.
- Ensure better collaboration, especially in time-sensitive roles like customer support or sales.
Stat Spotlight: Over 85% of corporate communication occurs in writing, emphasizing the importance of fast and accurate typing.
3. Reducing Errors
Employees with a solid command of their typing skills are less likely to make errors, which can save organizations from potential mishaps, especially in roles that deal with sensitive or critical data.
- Accurate typing reduces rework.
- It ensures that communication and documentation maintain a professional standard.
Stat Spotlight: Errors due to poor typing accuracy cost organizations an estimated $20 billion annually, highlighting the financial impact of this skill gap.
4. Supporting Remote Work Efficiency
The rise of remote work demands seamless digital communication and task execution. Good typing skills ensure:
- Smooth collaboration on virtual platforms.
- Faster task completion during online meetings or collaborative document editing.
- Better adaptability to tech tools that depend on typing, such as project management software or customer relationship management systems.
Stat Spotlight: Remote workers with above-average typing speeds report a 30% higher productivity rate compared to those with below-average speeds.
5. Meeting Job-Specific Requirements
The importance of typing speed can vary by role:
- Content Creation: Writers and marketers need typing speeds of 70–90 WPM to meet content deadlines efficiently.
- Data Entry: Typists in data-heavy industries must achieve speeds of 80–100 WPM with high accuracy.
- Customer Support: Agents benefit from faster typing for live chat support, ensuring quick response times.
6. Boosting Employee Confidence
When employees type faster, they feel more in control of their tasks. This confidence can lead to:
- Enhanced job satisfaction.
- Higher self-esteem in roles requiring regular written communication.
- A sense of accomplishment and reduced stress during high-pressure tasks.
7. Saving Organizational Costs
Investing in employees with good typing skills can yield significant savings:
- Reduced overtime costs for task completion.
- Lower expenditure on error correction.
- Higher ROI on technology investments as employees utilize digital tools more effectively.
Stat Spotlight: Organizations save an average of $2,500 per employee annually by ensuring a workforce proficient in typing.
For recruiters, evaluating typing speed isn’t just about assessing a candidate’s technical skill; it’s about understanding how this competency aligns with organizational goals. A fast typist doesn’t just work more quickly—they elevate the entire team’s productivity and communication standards, ensuring better business outcomes.
It hence becomes very important for recruiters to ensure that they’re candidates are meet with this principal workplace skill by conducting typing speed assessment tests.
How to Measure Typing Speed Effectively?
Accurate measurement of typing speed is essential for evaluating and comparing candidates effectively. Typing speed is commonly expressed in Words Per Minute (WPM), a metric calculated based on the number of correctly typed words within a specific timeframe. Here’s how you can approach it:
1. The Formula for Typing Speed
Typing speed is calculated using this formula:
Typing Speed (WPM) = (Total Characters ÷ 5) ÷ Total Time (in minutes)
A "word" is defined as five keystrokes (including spaces, letters, numbers, and punctuation).
Example:
If you type 300 characters in 2 minutes:
- Convert characters into words:
300 ÷ 5 = 60 words - Divide words by the time in minutes:
60 ÷ 2 = 30 WPM
Result: Typing Speed = 30 WPM
2. Tools for Measuring Typing Speed
There are multiple platforms recruiters can use to evaluate typing speed accurately:
- WeCP's Typing Assessments: Customized for recruiters, these tests focus on typing speed and accuracy with job-specific scenarios.
- Typing.com: Offers free and premium tools for general typing tests.
- 10FastFingers: Popular for competitive typing tests with real-time tracking of WPM and accuracy.
- KeyHero: Tracks speed and highlights errors for improvement.
- Monkeytype: A flexible platform offering multilingual and customizable tests.
3. Factors to Evaluate Beyond WPM
Typing speed alone is not sufficient to assess typing proficiency. Consider these complementary metrics:
- Accuracy: The percentage of correctly typed words. A threshold of 95% or higher is generally expected.
- Consistency: Variations in typing speed over time can indicate stress or unfamiliarity with specific tasks.
- Contextual Relevance: Test content should reflect the job’s typing requirements.
For example:- For content writers: Assess typing speed with lengthy articles and creative content.
- For data entry: Use numeric and alphanumeric content tests.
Pro Tip for Recruiters: Incorporate time-bound simulations where candidates complete tasks resembling real-world job scenarios to get a holistic view of their typing ability.
4. Why Accuracy Is as Critical as Speed
While speed is vital, errors in typed content can lead to:
- Miscommunication (e.g., incorrect data entries or email typos).
- Lost time in correcting errors, reducing overall productivity.
Stats to Consider: Studies reveal that employees spend an average of 19.8 minutes per day correcting typing errors, which adds up to over 80 hours annually in lost productivity per employee.
5. Recommended Testing Duration
The duration of the typing test can affect accuracy and results. Here's a breakdown:
- 1-Minute Test: Best for quick assessments but may not reflect consistency.
- 3- to 5-Minute Test: Ideal for capturing both speed and accuracy.
- 10-Minute Test: Provides a comprehensive view of performance under sustained effort.
Tip: Shorter tests are prone to inaccuracies due to typing bursts, while longer tests highlight natural typing patterns and stamina.
Benefits of High Typing Speed in Employees:
1. Boosts Productivity
A good time speed is essentially important to reach goals faster and save time. Employees that have a good typing speed can contribute to the organization to a greater extent by completing tasks accurately at a faster rate. Additionally, a high typing speed can enable employees to focus on much important tasks that require more mental and cognitive focus.
2. Time Efficiency
Due to the central element of high typing speed being the ability to accurately complete typing tasks at a much higher speed, it results in achieving goals at a faster pace while also maintaining quality and relevancy. In the business world time is a currency in its own way, reaching goals faster can help business professionals make impending changes much before the anticipated mishaps or market shifts.
3. Builds Communication
Employees that possess the ability to type error free, accurate and relevant content at a faster speed are more likely to build better organizational relationships due to enhanced communication. A good typing speed is directly proportional to faster responses and deliverables that intern facilitate collaboration and teamwork through clear communication of ideas and opinions.
4. Attention to Detail
An employee that consistently has a slow typing speed can experience greater amounts of stress and fatigue due to excretion of increased focus and cognitive attention towards typing leaving little to no space for actual intellectual thinking. This can affect work output in ways of content irrelevancy, missing minute details and key points, etc.
5. Enhances Writing Flow
Faster typing can facilitate distribution of mental focus on intellectual accuracy of the content being written, thereby boosting the thought process and increasing writing flow. If an employee has a slow typing speed, it can affect the thinking process by distractions of typing the right letters on the keyboard and this can ultimately sabotage free flow of thoughts and writing.
How to Improve Typing Speed in Employees?
1. Ensure Proper Sitting Position
Ensure that your employees are seated properly, make sure that device is placed at a suitable angle. Sitting in a position that is strenuous can cause employees discomfort and distract them when working which can lead to typing errors and a slower typing pace. A proper seating can ensure that the employees can entirely focus on their work, eventually aiding their typing skills.
2. Alignment and Placement
When using a keyboard alignment can play an important role in optimizing typing speed. A good keyboard hand alignment refers to the right positioning and placement of both the hands, that is making sure that your right hand covers exactly the home row of the right half of the keyboard, while the left hand covers the left half. This can help the user conveniently and quickly access all keys of the keyboard, boosting typing speed.
3. Maintaining a Steady Pace
For beginners, ensuring a steady pace can go a long way in fostering error-free typing. A steady pace can help ensure consistency and determine proper keys. Moreover, maintaining a consistent typing speed can help identify mistakes and examine key placements. During the initial stages trying to type faster can lead to irregularities and inconsistent typing which may cause overlooking mistakes.
4. Conducting Typing Tests
Human resource managers can conduct typing tests to test the typing speed and accuracy of their employees using online test platforms like WeCP that not only offer AI-driven skill assessment tests but also help managers evaluate employee typing performance and curate suitable training and development programs to bridge these skill gaps.
5. Practice
The last and the most important tip to improve typing skills is to encourage employees to practice typing. Constantly practicing typing can help build muscle memory when using the keyboard, automatically boosting their typing speed.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, typing speed is the most important primary technical skill required to sustain the new age digital revolutions. Hence hiring managers should stress considerable focus on this skill to ensure that they are hiring future ready employees.
Moreover, recruiters can leverage our WeCP skill assessment products that offer AI enabled typing assessment tests for an exciting workforce that can undoubtedly make room for improvement and innovation in them, eventually amplifying productivity.
Want to know how WeCP can help your organization? Contact us for more information.
.png)
.svg){kind=logo}