2026 Administrative and customer support job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

Read the report

How work gets done is changing rapidly, as are the skills required to drive business success. Companies across industries are launching new initiatives, adopting AI and adjusting to shifting demands, and seeking skilled talent to support growth and modernization. But many firms remain cautious about adding headcount too quickly. As a result, staffing conversations in early 2026 are increasingly focused on which roles are most essential and how to hire effectively.

Administrative and customer support teams are navigating these dynamics along with rising expectations for efficiency, responsiveness and coordination. Roles that once focused on day-to-day support are expanding to include workflow automation, technology platforms and cross-functional collaboration. At the same time, leaders are under pressure to improve customer experiences and support broader business priorities—often with limited resources.

Research for Robert Half’s latest Demand for Skilled Talent report shows many administrative and customer support leaders are responding to these and other challenges with a mix of approaches—including upskilling existing teams and engaging highly skilled contract talent—to advance strategic priorities such as enhancing customer service and satisfaction and implementing or optimizing technology and collaboration tools.

2026 In-demand administrative and customer support roles and hiring trends

What does the administrative and customer support hiring market look like?
What roles are companies hiring for most?
What administrative and customer support roles are seeing increased demand in 2026—and why?
What administrative and customer support skills are in demand?
How to compete for administrative and customer support talent in 2026

What does the administrative and customer support hiring market look like?

The latest administrative and customer support hiring trends for 2026 paint a mixed picture. More than half (54%) of hiring managers say finding skilled professionals is more challenging than it was a year ago. But even so, hiring remains a priority. 55% of administrative and customer support leaders plan to increase permanent headcount in the second half of 2026, and 37% expect to bring on more contract or temporary talent.

How skills shortages are affecting teams

The talent crunch is producing real consequences. Half of leaders in these fields say skills shortages have caused project delays in the past year, and 31% report that projects have been canceled entirely.

The initiatives most affected are improving efficiency and workflow automation and enhancing customer experience and satisfaction. When teams lack the capacity to improve workflows or adopt new tools, that puts even more strain on the people already doing the work—a cycle that's difficult to break without outside support or additional headcount.

What job posting trends show

Robert Half’s analysis of U.S. job posting activity underscores just how critical administrative and customer support work remains across the economy. Employers posted 1,354,400 jobs in these fields in 2025, reflecting strong demand for organized, detail-oriented professionals who can maintain efficient daily operations and support customers effectively.

Administrative roles drove much of the hiring activity. Employers posted more than 772,600 administrative jobs in 2025, up 9% from 2024. Two positions contributed significantly to that total: project managers (183,600 jobs) and front desk coordinators (102,700 jobs). The volume of project manager postings suggests many organizations are coordinating more cross-functional initiatives with tighter timelines. Front desk coordinators remain essential for managing the steady flow of visitors, calls and scheduling that keeps offices and facilities running smoothly.

Hiring was widespread across industries, with some clear leaders. Healthcare posted 110,900 administrative and customer support jobs, followed by consumer products (99,200) and manufacturing and distribution (92,000). Hospitality (50,400) and construction (43,600) also generated substantial demand.

What unemployment rates suggest about competition for skilled talent

Unemployment data reinforces how limited the available talent pool remains for many administrative and customer support roles. Based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the following roles were among those with Q1 unemployment rates well below the national rate of 4.3% for May 2026:

Administrative managers: 2.3%

Office and administrative professionals: 2.3%

Executive assistants: 2.5%

Administrative assistants: 3.9%

These rates are below the year-end national unemployment rate of 4.4%.

What roles are companies hiring for most?

So which are the in-demand administrative and customer support roles in 2026? Hiring remains focused on positions that handle the details and interactions organizations can't afford to let slide—scheduling, communication, customer inquiries and on-site coordination. These positions include:

Administrative assistant: Organizations need administrative assistants to manage scheduling, documentation and coordination tasks that support leaders and teams.

Customer service specialist: These professionals handle high volumes of inquiries, resolve issues efficiently and support consistent service experiences as customer expectations continue to rise.

Executive assistant: Senior leaders rely on these professionals to help them stay focused and effective by managing complex calendars, communications and priorities.

Front desk coordinator: Companies with in-office or hybrid operations rely on these professionals for on-site support and guest management, helping them create a professional first impression and keep daily office operations running smoothly.

Office manager: These professionals are needed to oversee daily administrative operations, coordinate various office activities, manage support staff, and serve as the key point of contact for internal teams and external vendors.

Chart showing starting salary ranges for administrative and customer support roles in highest demand, including administrative project managers, executive assistants and office managers.

Administrative and customer support professionals in highest demand The following roles have been experiencing above-average sequential growth and consistent demand throughout the past 12 months. Starting salary: Low, Mid, High. Role Low Mid High Administrative project manager 67,750 82,750 97,500 Executive assistant 58,250 70,250 86,750 Office manager 55,250 60,500 66,750 Administrative assistant 42,000 46,500 52,750 Customer service specialist 38,500 42,000 48,500 Logistics specialist 38,250 42,000 49,750 Facilities coordinator/assistant 38,750 41,000 45,250 Front desk coordinator 37,750 40,500 45,500 Source: National salary ranges are sourced from the Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide. © 2026 Robert Half Inc. M/F/D/V.

What administrative and customer support roles are seeing increased demand in 2026—and why?

Among the clearest administrative and customer support hiring trends for 2026 is growing demand for roles that go beyond traditional coordination. As organizations manage more complexity across operations, facilities and projects, they're looking for professionals who can take on broader responsibilities:

Logistics specialist: These professionals coordinate shipments, manage vendors, sales staff, shippers and others, and help streamline fulfillment to reduce delays and control costs.

Project manager: Organizations running multiple initiatives and cross-functional projects rely on these professionals to align resources and manage timelines and risks to keep work on track and deliver optimal results.

Property management assistant: These professionals support property operations by coordinating tenant communication, leases, work orders and related administrative and accounts payable tasks.

Learn more about administrative and customer support jobs in demand

Access report

Explore our Demand for Skilled Talent report to see what specializations employers need most this year in the administrative and customer support fields and other top professions.

What administrative and customer support skills are in demand?

Beyond knowing which are the in-demand administrative roles in 2026, employers also need to understand the skills that make candidates effective. Administrative and customer support leaders are prioritizing capabilities that help teams handle higher expectations, often with fewer resources. The strongest demand is for professionals who can keep work organized, communicate clearly and use current technology, including AI tools, to solve problems faster and more consistently. Many employers are also looking for professionals who bring critical thinking and adaptability to their work, especially when collaborating with AI.

Here are some highlights from Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report and job posting analysis.

Technical skills employers value most for administrative and customer support roles

Administrative operations

Customer experience

Front office management

Google suite

Microsoft Excel

Project management

Tableau

Workflows

How to compete for administrative and customer support talent in 2026

Competing for talent in the second half of the year requires employers to be specific and realistic about the work and expectations for performance. Top candidates expect to receive details on schedules, workload, reporting lines and the systems they’ll use daily. Employers that define roles accurately, move quickly through interviews and communicate priorities clearly are more likely to secure professionals who can step in and perform with minimal ramp-up.

Work flexibility, offered as part of a compelling total compensation package, can also help employers stand out. Robert Half research shows that only 12% of administrative and customer support roles are advertised as hybrid, even though flexibility remains important to many candidates. Employers that offer hybrid or remote options can broaden their talent pools significantly. When on-site work is required, organizations can still differentiate by offering predictable schedules, manageable workloads, paid time off and access to training or advancement opportunities.

Working with specialized recruiters can provide an edge, too. Higher application volumes, uneven candidate quality and the rise of AI-generated resumes are making it harder for leaders to assess potential hires quickly and confidently. Across all professions surveyed, 67% of employers say AI-related hiring challenges have made them more likely to turn to a staffing or consulting firm for support.

That support is delivering results. A majority (85%) of administrative and customer support leaders surveyed for our Demand for Skilled Talent report say staffing firms have been effective at helping them address AI-related hiring challenges. For hiring managers facing tight timelines and persistent talent shortages, specialized recruiters can also help surface skilled candidates faster and provide access to flexible talent options, including permanent and contract professionals.

For employers struggling to hire administrative and customer support talent in 2026, working with a staffing firm like Robert Half can make the difference between an open seat and a strong hire, helping you secure the skilled administrative and customer support talent your organization needs to succeed in 2026.

Find out more

Robert Half can help you secure the skilled administrative and customer support talent your organization needs to succeed in 2026.

Explore our research and analysis for other top professions

2026 Non-clinical healthcare job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

2026 Finance and accounting job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

2026 Human resources (HR) job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

2026 Legal job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

2026 Marketing job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

2026 Technology job market: In-demand roles and hiring trends

About the Demand for Skilled Talent report

The Demand for Skilled Talent report by Robert Half is an authoritative source providing essential insights into employment trends. This report has offered a deep dive into the U.S. hiring landscape for over a decade, spotlighting challenges and strategies to attract and retain talent. It explores what employees seek in their careers, identifies common recruitment errors and suggests solutions. The report spans finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support, and human resources, proving crucial for business leaders and managers.

For more on how these findings were developed, see the full Demand for Skilled Talent methodology.