Will AI replace administrative assistants? Live data
Administrative assistants have very high measured AI exposure: Claude usage data covers about 45% of the tasks in this job that AI could in theory speed up. UK adverts are -3.7% year on year, and US postings in Indeed's Administrative Assistance category are -11.4%. Our ledger links 7 AI-attributed layoff events to related roles.
How exposed is this job to AI?
The score is Anthropic's observed exposure for US occupation Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive (SOC 43-6014). It takes the tasks that a language model could theoretically speed up and measures how many are actually showing up in real work-related Claude usage, with fully automated use counting more than assistance.
Dashed line = top third. This occupation is in the top third (used in our ledger rubric, grade B). Ranked #20 of 756.
What the job involves
Perform routine administrative functions such as drafting correspondence, scheduling appointments, organizing and maintaining paper and electronic files, or providing information to callers.
O*NET 31.0 description for Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive. 31 of 31 tasks have a task-level score.
Tasks where AI use is most visible
- Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals. 100% coverage
- Greet visitors or callers and handle their inquiries or direct them to the appropriate persons according to their needs. 100% coverage
- Provide services to customers, such as order placement or account information. 100% coverage
- Arrange conference, meeting, or travel reservations for office personnel. 100% coverage
- Schedule and confirm appointments for clients, customers, or supervisors. 99% coverage
Core tasks with no observed AI use
- Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions.
- Set up and manage paper or electronic filing systems, recording information, updating paperwork, or maintaining documents, such as attendance records, correspondence, or other material.
- Operate electronic mail systems and coordinate the flow of information, internally or with other organizations.
- Maintain scheduling and event calendars.
- Complete forms in accordance with company procedures.
UK hiring: online job adverts
Monthly new online job adverts for UK SOC 2020 4215 Personal assistants and other secretaries. Year-on-year change compares the last six months with the same months a year earlier, using only months published in both years.
Source: ONS, Online job advert estimates (Textkernel), published 22 October 2026, OGL v3.0. Gaps are suppressed cells. Official statistics in development: Oct 2025-Feb 2026 and Jun-Sep 2026 partly imputed; March 2026 suppressed; Textkernel taxonomy updates cause step changes, so compare recent years with care.
Live postings: UK and US (Indeed)
Indeed's Administrative Assistance category index (covers more than this occupation).
Source: Indeed Hiring Lab job postings by sector, seasonally adjusted, 7-day average, to 16 Oct 2026. CC BY 4.0.
AI-attributed layoffs affecting related roles
| Date | Company | Roles cut | AI claim | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Oct 2026 | Kroger | ~3,000 | CMixed | Memo cites delayering and price competition alongside technology; the AI link is mostly media framing and the affected roles are unspecified. Details |
| 2 Oct 2026 | CMS (law firm) | Undisclosed | DWeak | The firm's statement doesn't name AI, the AI link comes from anonymous sources, the plans are early-stage and no headcount was given. Details |
| 22 Sep 2026 | University Hospitals of Northamptonshire NHS Group | ~100 | ADocumented | The employer names specific AI systems and the admin roles they replace, and the post count is stated. Caveat: these are posts, not redundancies. Details |
| 6 Aug 2026 | On the Beach | ~107 | DWeak | The company cites technology-driven automation, not AI specifically; the AI framing comes from coverage, and the roles aren't itemised. Details |
| 22 Jul 2026 | Telefónica Deutschland (O2) | ~1,100 | CMixed | AI is one of several stated levers, alongside simplification and shop closures that have nothing to do with AI. Details |
| 19 May 2026 | Standard Chartered | ~7,800 | BCredible | The CEO publicly ties the cuts to AI replacing back-office work, and the roles are relatively exposed. It's a multi-year target, not a done event. Details |
| 6 Feb 2026 | Baker McKenzie | ~600 | CMixed | AI is named as one of several factors; the headcount is a press estimate, not a firm figure. Details |
Links between events and occupations are our editorial mapping, not company-stated.
What to do if you're one of the administrative assistants
- Lean into the work AI isn't doing. In the usage data, core tasks such as "Operate office equipment, such as fax machines, copiers, or phone systems and arrange for repairs when equipment malfunctions" show no observed AI use. Building depth there is the most defensible part of the role.
- Get fluent with AI on the tasks it's already touching. The highest-coverage task here is "Answer telephones and give information to callers, take messages, or transfer calls to appropriate individuals". People who can check, direct and sign off AI output on tasks like this are likely to be more valuable than those competing with it.
- Watch hiring, not headlines. UK adverts for this role are down on a year ago, but compare with the wider market: all UK adverts are -3.4% on the same basis (dashboard). A fall that matches the whole market is a cycle, not an AI story.
- Check the claims. When a company says AI replaced jobs, look at its grade in our ledger - many announcements are mixed or AI-washed.
Data mapping for this page
| US occupation (exposure, tasks) | 43-6014 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive |
|---|---|
| UK SOC 2020 (ONS adverts) | 4215 Personal assistants and other secretaries |
| Indeed category | Administrative Assistance |
| Mapping confidence | medium US general secretaries and admin assistants to UK 4215 'Personal assistants and other secretaries'. UK general admin roles (4159) are not included. |
The US SOC → UK SOC 2020 crosswalk is a documented best-effort editorial mapping; see methodology.