The final SkiLMeeT research webinar of the year focused on how computerisation is transforming office and administrative support jobs, with a close look at its impact on employment, wages, and skill demands. The webinar featured a presentation by Eliza Forsythe, Associate Professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who shared key findings from her study “Computerisation of White-Collar Jobs”, co-authored with Marcus Dillender (Vanderbilt University).
Held on 11 December 2024, the event gathered 25 participants, fostering discussions on the impact of different types of technologies on workers.
Forsythe and Dillender’s research analyses the effects of computerisation on the U.S. office and administrative support sector, which accounts for over 12% of the workforce. Their findings reveal that this technology has significantly raised the skill requirements for these roles. Employers are now looking for more experienced candidates with higher levels of education. Tasks that were once strictly clerical are being expanded to include responsibilities in areas like finance, legal support, and management, resulting in a “widening task space.”
While the overall number of office and administrative support jobs has declined in the U.S. due to computerisation, the study shows that many displaced workers successfully transition to other roles, contributing to local employment growth. This suggests that while technological change is disrupting specific job categories, it can generate opportunities for workers in new positions.
The educational profile of office and administrative support staff is also evolving. The share of college-educated workers in this sector is rising, and wages have followed a similar upward trend. These developments indicate that, for some workers, technological change is creating opportunities for career advancement and higher compensation. However, not all groups benefit equally. Women with college degrees have emerged as the primary beneficiaries, capturing a substantial share of the employment and wage gains associated with technological change in this sector.
Unlike the task-replacing effects often associated with automation, the technological shift in office and administrative roles is better described as “factor-augmenting.” Instead of eliminating specific tasks, new digital tools are enhancing worker productivity, enabling employees to perform a broader and more complex range of activities.
