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AI exposure Office and administrative support

Will AI replace administrative assistants?

Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive. US occupation 43-6014.

45.3%

of the time administrative assistants spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of administrative assistants' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.

Ranked 19 of 756 US occupations. More exposed than 97% of them.Further along than 97% of them.

Average US job 7.7%

One of the most exposed jobs in the country.Front of the queue for an AI assistant.

What AI already does for administrative assistantsWhat administrative assistants no longer do alone

O*NET lists 31 tasks for administrative assistants. AI use at work shows up in 10 of them. Each score runs from 0.5, where every observed use helps a person with the task, to 1, where every use does the task outright.

  1. Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  2. Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  3. Arrange conference, meeting, or travel reservations for office personnel. mostly automated 1.00
  4. Provide services to customers, such as order placement or account information. mostly automated 1.00
  5. Schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors.Core task mostly automated 0.99
  6. Conduct searches to find needed information, using such sources as the Internet.Core task mostly automated 0.98
  7. Create, maintain, and enter information into databases.Core task mostly automated 0.97
  8. Use computers for various applications, such as database management or word processing.Core task mostly automated 0.96
Show the other 2
  1. Develop or maintain internal or external company Web sites. mostly automated 0.94
  2. Compose, type, and distribute meeting notes, routine correspondence, or reports, such as presentations or expense, statistical, or monthly reports.Core task automated and assisted 0.74

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

21 of the 31 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Complete forms in accordance with company procedures.Core task
  • Learn to operate new office technologies as they are developed and implemented.Core task
  • Locate and attach appropriate files to incoming correspondence requiring replies.Core task
  • Maintain scheduling and event calendars.Core task
  • Make copies of correspondence or other printed material.Core task
  • Open, read, route, and distribute incoming mail or other materials and answer routine letters.Core task
Show the other 15
  • Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.Core task
  • Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.Core task
  • Order and dispense supplies.Core task
  • Prepare conference or event materials, such as flyers or invitations.Core task
  • Review work done by others to check for correct spelling and grammar, ensure that company format policies are followed, and recommend revisions.Core task
  • Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.Core task
  • Train and assist staff with computer usage.Core task
  • Collect and deposit money into accounts, disburse funds from cash accounts to pay bills or invoices, keep records of collections and disbursements, and ensure accounts are balanced.
  • Coordinate conferences, meetings, or special events, such as luncheons or graduation ceremonies.
  • Establish work procedures or schedules and keep track of the daily work of clerical staff.
  • Mail newsletters, promotional material, or other information.
  • Manage projects or contribute to committee or team work.
  • Perform payroll functions, such as maintaining timekeeping information and processing and submitting payroll.
  • Prepare and mail checks.
  • Supervise other clerical staff and provide training and orientation to new staff.

How that compares

Among the 50 office and administrative support occupations, administrative assistants rank 5. The group averages 19.1%, and its most exposed job is Customer Service Representatives at 70.1%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.

All 756 occupations, ranked

Just above in the ranking

  1. 17Desktop Publishers 46.4%
  2. 18Data Scientists 46.1%
  3. 19Public Relations Specialists 45.3%

Just below

  1. 21Political Scientists 45.2%
  2. 22Office Clerks, General 45.0%
  3. 23Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents 44.1%

What this does and does not mean

Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.

A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.

Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.