Administrative officers
Career Overview
Administrative officers review, oversee and carry out the office procedures involved in running a business or organization. This group includes administrative officers who are supervisors.
Job Titles
Duties
In general, administrative officers:
- Oversee and co-ordinate office administrative procedures and policies
- Test and carry out new procedures
- Set work priorities and delegate work to office support staff
- Make sure deadlines are met and procedures are followed
- Plan and manage events
- Co-ordinate meetings for leadership teams, staff updates and team-building exercises
- Advise staff, stakeholders and partners on office procedures
- Analyze and oversee budgeting, contracting, project planning and management processes
- Help prepare the operating budget and maintain inventory and budgetary controls
- Collect data and prepare reports, manuals and correspondence
- Provide administrative support—such as typing forms and responding to general inquiries
- Organize office space
Administrative officers also co-ordinate and act as the main contact for travel accommodations, relocations, equipment, supplies, forms, parking, maintenance and security services for the office.
They may also perform industry-specific activities, such as post-secondary admission.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
35,185% Employed Full Time
60%Administrative officers work in a wide variety of public and private industries and services. Hours are generally Monday to Friday, unless there are events or off-site meetings.
Administrative officers work in many different types of offices and work environments. In some offices, they may not have an assigned desk or workspace. Some may be able to work from home.
They are often interrupted in their work with requests from staff, management and the public. They are also expected to manage many projects at the same time, and often work in busy, noisy offices.
Career Pathways
Administrative officers usually start out as receptionists, data entry clerks, administrative assistants or office managers.
With experience, they may move up to executive assistant or senior secretary roles, or into administrative management positions.
An administrative officer may become qualified as a Canadian Certified Administrative Professional (CCAP), which may help them to move up as an administrative professional.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.
For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Administrative officers must have completed secondary school.
Some employers may expect an administrative officer to have:
- A university degree or college diploma in business or public administration, accounting, marketing or business technology
- Experience in a senior clerical or executive secretarial position related to office administration
- A certificate in project management
- Experience with databases and office software, such as the Microsoft Office Suite
- Designation as a Canadian Certified Administrative Professional (CCAP)
Employers may also expect administrative officers to have specialized knowledge relating to the industry they work in, such as the technology or financial sectors. Often, accounting and financial skills are needed.
Additional education, training and qualifications may vary depending on the employer.
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Administrative Assistance/Office Assistance
- Publishing
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
35,185Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 1,035 | 2.9% |
| Kootenay | 1,125 | 3.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 21,575 | 61.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 525 | 1.5% |
| Northeast | 540 | 1.5% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 4,120 | 11.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 6,270 | 17.8% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
20,300Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 530 | 0.2% |
| Kootenay | 730 | 0.7% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 12,220 | 1.6% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 270 | 0.7% |
| Northeast | 250 | 0.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 2,760 | 1.3% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 3,540 | 1.1% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 3,440 |
| Professional, Scientific and Technical Services | 3,020 |
| Educational Services | 2,280 |
| Construction | 2,190 |
| Public Administration | 1,800 |
Insights from Industry
As offices rely more on technology and services are shared among departments, not as many administrative staff may be needed. However, administrative officers are used in a broad range of industries so demand for these positions will likely to continue as people retire.
Although employers may favour higher education and credentials when hiring an administrative officer, they also consider an individual’s personality and how well suited they are to the role.
Resources
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Association of Administrative Professionalswww.canadianadmin.ca
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International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP)www.iaap-hq.org
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Local Government Management Association of British Columbiawww.lgma.ca/programs-training
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The Association of Executive and Administrative Professionalswww.theaeap.com
Career Videos
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a production manager is like.
Watch the video below to see what a day in the life of a production manager is like.
