As we continue our series of Market Metrix, we have identified another industry experiencing positive growth: Clerical and Administrative. Although job security is always a concern, career professionals in this industry can rest assured they will continue to be highly valued as their activities help support the day-to-day operations of most organizations. An outlook report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects future job growth to continue at a faster-than-average pace in office and administrative support occupations through 2016. To further support these projections, Beyond.com has aggregated career related data that will highlight the strength of the clerical and administrative industry.
Where is the clerical and administrative job market?
Beyond.com’s Industry Trends Report reveals that Florida, Texas, Georgia, California, North Carolina, and New York are a safe bet if you are looking to land a clerical and administrative gig. These favorable states account for more then 52% of all clerical and administrative job postings in 2008. As reported in our healthcare industry post, this should come as no surprise as these states represent more than 38% of the total U.S population.
At a closer glance, Beyond.com’s report indicates that New York, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, and St. Louis were the top cities for clerical and administrated jobs over the past year. A driving force behind these stable local job markets are sites like AdministrativeJobs.com, BeyondLosAngeles.com, BeyondSanDiego.com, and StLouisGigs.com, where job seekers and employers alike are finding value in connecting through relevant niche sites.
What are candidates looking for?
With an increasing demand for flexible work arrangements and schedules, professionals of temporary and full-time status can find a variety of career opportunities with AdministrativeJobs.com. Currently, the top searched keywords that job seekers are using to find career opportunities are:
- Administrative Assistant
- Clerical
- Receptionist
- Data Entry
- Secretary
- Executive Assistant
- Administration
These keywords help us understand what positions are in highest demand, how to search for open positions, and also how employers should word job postings to better meet candidate search criteria.
Barriers to entry?
Good news! Investing heavily in higher education is not always needed to find a rewarding career opportunity. Close to 85% of clerical and administrative professionals in the Beyond.com Network have a two year college degree or less. However, more than 57% of industry professionals have 5 or more years of experience. These stats prove that higher education is not always a mandatory qualification for finding a job in this field. It is evident that employers value experience and a strong competence for continuing on-the-job work training.
We let the data do the talking for Market Metrix and it appears as though the clerical and administrative industry will continue to thrive in 2009. For additional career information, view the Clerical & Administrative Industry Outlook Report. Check back for more Market Metrix in the near future to gain an in depth look at market conditions in the Information Technology industry.
