Office and Administrative Support Workers, All Other

Office and administrative support jobs involve many routine tasks, like answering phones, scheduling meetings, typing documents, and filing records. In fact, official job descriptions list “answering telephones” and “scheduling appointments” as common duties ^{[1] [1]}. Many of these tasks can be partially automated: for example, automated phone systems, email filters, and calendar‐booking software already handle simple scheduling.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that overall employment in office/admin support will decline over 2024–34 ^[2], in large part because technology makes some tasks faster or less labor-intensive. However, today AI tools are still mostly assistive. Human workers do much of the work, especially tasks needing judgment or personal touch (like helping upset customers or deciding how to organize a project).

In short, some clerical duties are being automated, but people still handle many parts of the job ^{[1] [1]}.

Whether offices adopt AI quickly depends on costs, benefits, and trust. Many AI helpers already exist (smart calendars, voice assistants, chatbots), but businesses must decide if these tools truly save money. Office workers in this group are often paid modestly (median ~$46,000/year ^[2]), so expensive AI systems may not always pay off right away.

Also, companies worry about data privacy or mistakes. One study found that limited staff knowledge and security concerns slowed schools’ adoption of AI for admin work – but with training, staff became more confident and efficient ^[3]. In general, offices will likely add AI slowly: using it to speed routine chores (like auto-filling forms) rather than replace people.

Importantly, human skills remain valuable. Things like organizing events, reading emotional cues, problem-solving, and working with teams aren’t easy for AI. So while AI tools can help with basic tasks, friendly communication and creativity keep office workers in demand ^{[1] [2]}.