Other office and administrative support occupations

Computer operators rank among the most rapidly declining occupations over the 2004-14 period because advances in technology are making many of the duties traditionally performed by computer operators obsolete.
Computer operators usually receive on-the-job training; the length of training varies with the job and the experience of the worker.
Opportunities will be best for operators who have formal computer education, are familiar with a variety of operating systems, and keep up to date with the latest technology.

Employers generally hire high school graduates who meet company requirements for keyboarding speed; for many people, a job as a data entry and information processing worker is their first job after graduating from high school.
Although overall employment is projected to decline, the need to replace workers who leave this large occupation each year should produce many job openings.
Job prospects should be best for those with expertise in appropriate computer software applications.

About 4 out of 10 work for newspaper, periodical, book, and directory publishers, while 1 out of 4 work in printing and related support activities.
Employment is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations.
Most employers prefer to hire experienced desktop publishers; among persons without experience, opportunities should be best for those with certificates or degrees in desktop publishing or graphic design.

Most jobs are filled by promoting office or administrative support workers from within the organization.
Office automation will cause employment in some office and administrative support occupations to grow slowly or even decline, resulting in slower-than-average growth among supervisors and managers.
Applicants are likely to encounter keen competition because their numbers should greatly exceed the number of job openings.

Employment growth and high replacement needs in this large occupation will result in numerous job openings.
Prospects should be best for those with knowledge of basic computer applications and office machinery as well as good communication skills.
Part-time and temporary positions are common.

Numerous job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave this very large occupation each year.
Opportunities should be best for applicants with extensive knowledge of software applications.
Increasing office automation and organizational restructuring will lead to slower than average growth in overall employment of secretaries and administrative assistants, but average growth is projected for legal and medical secretaries.

Secretaries, Administrative Assistants, and Other Office Support Workers, all other