2026 Canada Job Market Trends Impacting Administrative and Customer Support Jobs
2026 Administrative and customer support jobs market trends
Success for administrative and customer support teams for the remainder of 2026 depends on securing talent with strong communication, sound judgement and the ability to work with digital tools, especially AI. Even as AI and automation systems become a useful part of daily workflows, many administrative and customer support teams lack candidates with the skills required to leverage them in a fast-paced environment.
These skills gaps, particularly in the areas of workflow efficiency, customer experience and technology optimization, have made it harder to execute priority projects.
Recent data from Robert Half found that 42 per cent of administrative and customer support leaders reported project delays due to skills shortages in the past year—with some even reporting project cancellations.
Top initiatives affected:
1. Efficiency and workflow automation
2. Customer experience and satisfaction
3. Optimizing technology and collaboration tools
4. Supporting employee well-being
5. Skills and career growth opportunities
Although many leaders are finding skilled talent to close these gaps is harder than it was a year ago, they are turning to flexible staffing strategies with diverse skillsets to improve efficiency and drive high-quality customer service and support.
In addition to technical skills needed in the era of AI in the workplace, administrative and customer support leaders are looking for soft skills that will help business adoption of AI-driven solutions. 59 per cent of administrative and customer support leaders surveyed in the Demand for Skilled Talent Report say critical thinking and problem solving and adaptability and continuous learning are the top soft skills to complement AI. Other soft skills leaders noted to complement AI include:
Creativity and innovation (48 per cent)
Communication (33 per cent)
Emotional intelligence (27 per cent)
Explore the full Demand for Skilled Talent report today
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Hiring plans for administrative and customer support managers
Hiring managers for administrative and customer support teams in Canada have indicated their hiring plans for the second half of 2026:
41 per cent are planning to increase hiring
30 per cent are planning to increase contract hiring
53 per cent say hiring skilled talent is more difficult today compared to one year ago
Impact of skills shortages
Critical, ongoing skills shortages have made it harder for administrative and customer support teams to execute priority projects. This is prompting delays, and some initiatives are being put on hold as leaders address these shortfalls.
42 per cent of administrative and customer support leaders say skills shortages have led to project delays in the past year.
32 per cent report projects have been cancelled.
Top trending skills for administrative support jobs
An analysis of Robert Half research and data found these are some of the most in-demand skills for administrative and customer support professionals:
Customer experience
Front office management
Microsoft Excel
Project management
Workflows
For the full list of skills and insights, read the full Demand for Skilled Talent Report by Robert Half.
Administrative and customer support job market in Canada: FAQs
1. Are employers increasingly hiring contract and remote/hybrid administrative and customer support professionals in 2026?
Yes. In the second half of 2026, Canadian employers are turning to contract administrative and customer support professionals to manage seasonal peaks, special projects, and skills gaps. This approach helps maintain flexibility and control costs in an evolving job market. Hybrid work options are also gaining traction for roles like executive assistants, customer service representatives, and administrative coordinators, as organizations adapt to digital workflows and evolving employee expectations.
For insights into the latest employment numbers across Canada, including the marketing and creative job market, check out our Labour Market Overview page, which is updated monthly.
2. What strategies should hiring managers use to attract administrative and customer support talent in Canada?
To succeed in the evolving Canadian job market, hiring managers should:
Offer competitive pay and transparent salary ranges, as candidates increasingly expect clarity.
Highlight flexibility and career development opportunities, including training for digital tools and customer experience platforms.
Leverage contract staffing to quickly fill roles during peak demand or when specialized skills are needed.
Promote hybrid work options, which remain a strong incentive for administrative professionals.
3. What are the average salaries for administrative and customer support jobs in Canada?
For the latest salaries across roles—such as administrative assistant, executive assistant, customer service specialist, and office manager—consult the Administrative and Customer Support section of the 2026 Canada Salary Guide From Robert Half. You can also use the Salary Calculator to find salaries local to you in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, or other city.
About the Demand for Skilled Talent report
Access Report
The Demand for Skilled Talent report by Robert Half is an authoritative source providing essential insights into 2026’s employment trends. This report has offered a deep dive into Canada’s hiring landscape for over a decade, spotlighting challenges and strategies to attract and retain talent in today’s job market. It explores what employees seek in their careers, identifies common recruitment errors and suggests solutions. The report spans sectors like finance and accounting, technology, marketing, legal, administrative and customer support and human resources, proving crucial for business leaders and managers.
Data methodology
The surveys cited were developed by Robert Half and conducted by an independent research firm. Results may not total 100% due to rounding or allowing for multiple responses. Respondents included executives, hiring managers and workers from small (10-99 employees), midsize (100-999 employees) and large (1,000+ employees) businesses in private, publicly listed and public sector organizations across Canada.
Positions are categorized into 365+ job titles within Robert Half’s Salary Guide using a proprietary mapping methodology that employs state-of-the-art large language models. This dataset includes roles across the finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, administrative and customer support and human resources professions.
