The recession forced over two million administrative assistants and clerical workers into unemployment. As the United States slowly recovers, people are starting to wonder what the future looks like for people interested in admin jobs. While some support positions may be phased out completely, most experts predict an overall increase in available admin jobs by the end of the decade.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the overall employment of administrative assistants and secretaries is expected to grow by approximately 12 percent by 2020. A 12 percent job growth is consistent with other industries, so you can expect the availability of admin jobs to be slow and steady. However, the need for medical secretaries is increasing at a more rapid pace. The rapid growth of admin jobs in the medical industry is due to the rapid growth of the healthcare industry as a whole.
Even though the future is looking up for people looking for admin jobs, jobs for word processors and typists are disappearing. Most word processors spend most of their time transcribing documents, meetings, and phone calls. While this type of office support job was once an in-demand position, advances in technology, the number of office workers skilled in working with word processing software, and the popularity of electronic business transactions could make the job completely obsolete. So, if you're looking for an office support job, you need to make sure you more to offer than word processing skills.
If you've been scouring job postings for admin jobs without luck, you should consider applying with a temp agency. According to Tammy Marino, an analyst for the New York State Department of Labor, 29,000 workers fell into the employment category that includes temp workers in July, 2013. However, this isn't a bad thing. It shows that the demand for services and goods is increasing, and with it the amount of available jobs will increase. Employers are hiring for admin jobs, but they are hiring slowly and cautiously, which has resulted in the highest number of temporary workers seen in decades. Basically, employers want to try before they buy, so many employers are looking for people to fill temp-to-hire positions. This way, if the employee isn't a good fit, the company isn't under any obligation to retain him or her.
While the need for office support positions may not be climbing at alarming rates, the need is increasing. Overall, the job growth for admin jobs is promising, and it should increase over the next few years. As long as you are actively looking for a job, continue your education to increase your skills, and consider using temp agencies to find employment, you shouldn't have difficulty finding numerous openings for admin jobs.
(Photo courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)
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