Job prospects Administrative Secretary in Ontario

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "administrative secretary" in Ontario or across Canada.

Job opportunities in Ontario

These outlooks were updated on November 29, 2023.

Prospects over the next 3 years

The employment outlook will be moderate for Administrative assistants (NOC 13110) in Ontario for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

What Types of Employers Are Out There?

• Employed across all industries with the leading shares in educational services, public administration, and health care

What are the Main Trends Affecting Employment?

• Ongoing need for administration and office support across businesses and departments will support work in this occupation
• There may be some opportunities for virtual assistants to support multiple clients
• Greater use of technology may temper job growth and change some job functions

What Skills Do I Need to Succeed?

• Completion of a college diploma in administration or previous experience in a clerical role may be required
• Some employers may require assistants to have experience in a particular industry

What Other Information Will I Find Helpful?

• There may be fewer employment opportunities in educational services during the summer months.

Here are some key facts about Administrative assistants in Ontario:

• Approximately 77,950 people work in this occupation.
• Administrative assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Elementary and secondary schools (NAICS 6111): 9%
  • Construction (NAICS 23): 7%
  • Ambulatory health care services (NAICS 621): 6%
  • Monetary Authorities - central bank and securities, commodity contracts and other intermediation and related activities (NAICS 521, 522, 523): 6%
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 5%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 78% compared to 81% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 22% compared to 19% for all occupations
• 62% of administrative assistants work all year, while 38% work only part of the year, compared to 63% and 37% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 43 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 7% compared to 52% for all occupations
  • Women: 93% compared to 48% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: less than 5% compared to 9% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 28% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 7% compared to 8% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: 32% compared to 22% for all occupations
  • bachelor's degree: 23% compared to 24% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: 6% compared to 13% for all occupations

Breakdown by region

Explore job prospects in Ontario by economic region.

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology

Job prospects elsewhere in Canada

Explore current and future job prospects for people working as an "administrative secretary" Administrative assistants (NOC 13110) or across Canada.

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