Office Clerks, General
Also called: office, clerk, admin, administrative clerk (admin clerk), clerical aide
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, share or explain information, take orders, and address complaints
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing office clerks, general work
5 of 12 main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Amber (some AI use) — 42% when main tasks are weighted. This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, share or explain information, take orders, and address complaints (main task) — a lot of recorded AI use
- Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Operate office machines (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Review files, records, and other documents to obtain information to respond to requests (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Complete work schedules, manage calendars, and arrange appointments (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Compute, record, and proofread data and other information (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Type, format, proofread, and edit correspondence and other documents, from notes or dictating machines, using computers or typewriters (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Inventory and order materials, supplies, and services (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Deliver messages and run errands (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Troubleshoot problems involving office equipment — a lot of recorded AI use
- Process and prepare documents — a lot of recorded AI use
- Prepare meeting agendas, attend meetings, and record and transcribe minutes — some recorded AI use
- Collect, count, and disburse money, do basic bookkeeping, and complete banking transactions — some recorded AI use
- Complete and mail bills, contracts, policies, invoices, or checks — no recorded AI use
- Monitor and direct the work of lower-level clerks — no recorded AI use
- Train other staff members to perform work activities — no recorded AI use
- Count, weigh, measure, or organize materials — no recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, share or explain information, take orders, and address complaints”. Try the prompt for: “Answer telephones, direct calls, and take messages”.
- Weeks 3–4: Make it a habit. Use AI 3 times a week for 15 minutes. Always check facts, numbers and names yourself.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and office clerks, general
Will AI replace office clerks, general?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 5 of the 12 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Amber rating (some AI use). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 11 of the 20 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which office tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: troubleshoot problems involving office equipment; communicate with customers, employees, and other individuals to answer questions, share or explain information, take orders, and address complaints; process and prepare documents.
Which office tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: maintain and update filing, inventory, mailing, and database systems, either manually or using a computer; compile, copy, sort, and file records of office activities, business transactions, and other activities; open, sort, and route incoming mail, answer correspondence, and prepare outgoing mail. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 78% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a office start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.