Employment Outlook

The employment outlook will be moderate for General office support workers (14100) in Prince Edward Island for the 2022-2024 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Several positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employees working in this occupation can be found in most industries; however, major employers are firms providing business and support services, hospitals, and various levels of government.

Most job openings will arise from high turnover, as this is primarily an entry-level position. Employment opportunities are usually available year-round, across a variety of industries. Industries that are more resistant to economic fluctuations, such as health care and educational services, will provide more stable employment opportunities. Candidates with prior administrative experience, strong oral and written communications skills, and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite are the most sought after in the labour market. Individuals willing to work weekends and evenings may have better employment prospects.

Clerks who are currently unemployed or experienced workers in related occupations will increase competition for any job openings that become available.  A number of training institutions in P.E.I. specializing in office skills provide a continuous supply of newly trained clerical workers to compete for vacancies.  In many cases, traditional clerical duties such as typing, filing and copying are being taken over by other occupations, including professionals and managers who formerly employed clerical staff to do this work.  Employment prospects will be better for office clerks who are bilingual.  The number of clerks and general office workers employed tends to be higher during the busy summer season. Some job openings will therefore be seasonal or short-term within any given year.

Here are some key facts about General office support workers in Prince Edward Island:

• Approximately 700 people work in this occupation.
• General office support workers mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 27%
  • Hospitals (NAICS 622): 19%
  • Other retail stores (NAICS 44-45, except 445): 9%
  • Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 7%
• The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:
  • Full-time workers: 82% compared to 84% for all occupations
  • Part-time workers: 18% compared to 16% for all occupations
• 60% of general office support workers work all year, while 40% work only part of the year, compared to 59% and 41% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 41 weeks compared to 41 weeks for all occupations.
• Less than 5% of general office support workers are self-employed compared to an average of 13% for all occupations.
• The gender distribution of people in this occupation is:
  • Men: 20% compared to 51% for all occupations
  • Women: 80% compared to 49% for all occupations
• The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is:
  • no high school diploma: 5% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • high school diploma or equivalent: 34% compared to 28% for all occupations
  • apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 11% compared to 11% for all occupations
  • college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor’s: 36% compared to 25% for all occupations
  • bachelor’s degree: 12% compared to 17% for all occupations
  • university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: less than 5% compared to 8% for all occupations

Source: Job Bank

Prevailing Wages