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AI exposure Office and administrative support

Will AI replace office clerks?

Office Clerks, General. US occupation 43-9061.

45.0%

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

Ranked 22 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 office clerksWhat office clerks no longer do alone

O*NET lists 20 tasks for office clerks. AI use at work shows up in 8 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, direct calls, and take messages.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  2. Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  3. Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments.Core task mostly automated 1.00
  4. Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests.Core task mostly automated 0.97
  5. Process and prepare documents, such as business or government forms and expense reports. mostly automated 0.97
  6. Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, disseminate or explain information, take orders, and address complaints.Core task mostly automated 0.97
  7. Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment, such as computer hardware and software. mostly automated 0.89
  8. Prepare meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record and transcribe minutes. mostly automated 0.85

What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human

12 of the 20 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.

  • Compute, record, and proofread data and other information, such as records or reports.Core task
  • Deliver messages and run errands.Core task
  • Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services.Core task
  • Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer.Core task
  • Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail.Core task
  • Operate office machines, such as photocopiers and scanners, facsimile machines, voice mail systems, and personal computers.Core task
Show the other 6
  • Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters.Core task
  • Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions.
  • Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks.
  • Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials.
  • Monitor and direct the work of lower-level clerks.
  • Train other staff members to perform work activities, such as using computer applications.

How that compares

Among the 50 office and administrative support occupations, office clerks rank 6. 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. 19Public Relations Specialists 45.3%
  2. 19Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive 45.3%
  3. 21Political Scientists 45.2%

Just below

  1. 23Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents 44.1%
  2. 24Social Science Research Assistants 43.9%
  3. 25Receptionists and Information Clerks 43.4%

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.