Office and administrative support workers

This occupational group includes communications equipment and 

computer operators, bill collectors, gaming cage workers, tellers, 

information and record clerks, customer service representatives, 

eligibility interviewers, secretaries and administrative assistants, 

couriers, dispatchers, data entry and information processing 

workers, and desktop publishers.

Cognitive and mental requirements

The qualifications that workers need to use judgment, make 

decisions, interact with others, and adapt to changes in jobs.

In 2023, verbal interactions were required constantly (every few 

minutes) for 31.4 percent of office and administrative support workers, and were required not constantly, but more 

than once per hour for 55.2 percent.

Table 1. Percentage of office and administrative support workers with cognitive and 

mental requirements, 2023

Requirement Yes No

Pace: Pause control 70.8 29.2

Interaction with general public 90.9 9.1

Working around crowds 0.8 99.2

Telework 12.5 87.5

Work review: Supervising others 8.6 91.4

Work review: Presence of supervisor 79.8 20.2

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey

Education, training, and experience requirements

The minimum level of formal 

education required, 

credentials necessary, on-thejob training, and prior work 

experience necessary for 

average performance in jobs.

In 2023, credentials were 

required for 10.8 percent of 

office and administrative 

support workers. Prior work 

experience was required for 

59.4 percent and on-the-job 

training was required for 88.5 

percent.

A high school diploma was 

required for 75.6 percent of 

office and administrative 

support workers.
Occupational Requirements Survey ●www.bls.gov/ors ●orsinfo@bls.gov ●202.691.6199

Environmental conditions

The various tangible or concrete hazards or 

difficulties that are in the vicinity of where jobs’ 

critical tasks are performed.

In 2023, greater than 99.5 percent of office and 

administrative support workers were not exposed to 

extreme cold, and greater than 99.5 percent were 

not exposed to extreme heat. Wetness was not 

present for 97.5 percent, greater than 99.5 percent 

were not exposed to heavy vibrations, and 95.3 

percent were not exposed to the outdoors.

Physical demands

Refer to the physical activities required to 

perform tasks in jobs. The presence and, in 

some cases, duration of these activities are 

published.

In 2023, keyboarding was required for 98.1 

percent of office and administrative support 

workers and was not required for 1.9 percent. 

For 1.3 percent of workers, keyboarding was 

seldom performed, for 26.6 percent 

keyboarding occurred occasionally, 65.1 

percent frequently, and for 5.1 percent 

keyboarding occurred constantly.

Performing work in low postures was required 

for 21.1 percent of office and administrative 

support workers and was not required for 78.9 percent.

The choice to sit or stand when performing critical tasks was available to 80.9 percent of office and administrative 

support workers. On average, workers spent 79.4 percent of the workday sitting and 20.6 percent of the workday 

standing.

Table 2. Percentage of office and administrative support workers with physical demands, 

2023

Requirement Yes No

Choice of sitting or standing 80.9 19.1

Driving 7.6 92.4

Climbing structure-related ramps or stairs 8.0 92.0

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Requirements Survey