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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?
Administrative and customer support leaders have entered 2026 with tempered optimism—and the most cautious outlook among the seven professional fields featured in Robert Half’s Demand for Skilled Talent report. Seventy-four percent of these leaders say they feel confident about their organization’s business outlook for 2026.
That’s still a significant majority, but it also reflects how closely many administrative and customer support roles are tied to broader headcount decisions, budget scrutiny and shifting expectations around service levels and productivity. The drive to adopt new technology may also be influencing leaders’ outlook, as AI and automation are changing the nature of support work and creating new skill demands.
Hiring is still a priority for many administrative and customer support leaders focused on achieving strategic priorities. Fifty percent say they plan to hire more permanent talent in 2026, and 44% look to increase contract or temporary hiring. The tight labor market could make the recruitment of in-demand talent more challenging, though. More than half (54%) of hiring managers for administrative and customer support teams say finding skilled professionals is much more difficult than it was a year ago.
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 administrative and customer support jobs in 2025, highlighting 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). Demand for project managers suggests many organizations are coordinating more cross-functional initiatives with tighter timelines and complex communication demands. Front desk coordinators remain essential for managing a steady flow of visitors, calls and scheduling needs as well as day-to-day office or facility support.
Hiring of administrative and customer support talent was widespread across industries last year, with some clear leaders. Healthcare posted 110,900 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 the competition for skilled talent
According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), annual unemployment rates remained low for several roles last year, including:
Executive assistants: 3.8%
Office and administrative professionals: 3.1%
Office managers: 3.1%
Project managers: 3.1%.
Administrative managers: 1.1%
These rates are also below the year-end national unemployment rate of 4.4%.
What administrative and customer support roles are still in demand?
Administrative and customer support hiring in 2026 remains largely focused on roles that handle the details and interactions organizations can’t afford to let slide, such as scheduling, communication, customer support 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.
What administrative and customer support roles are seeing increased demand in 2026—and why?
As organizations manage more complexity across operations, facilities and projects, demand is rising for administrative and customer support roles like these:
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?
In 2026, administrative and customer support leaders are prioritizing skills that help teams handle higher expectations—often with limited resources. The strongest demand is for professionals who can keep work organized, communicate clearly and use the latest technology, including AI tools, to solve problems faster and more consistently. Many employers are specifically looking for professionals who can bring soft skills such as critical thinking and adaptability to their work 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 administrative and customer support talent in the year ahead 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.
Engaging specialized recruiters can also provide an edge. Higher application volume, uneven quality of candidates’ skills and experience, and the rise of AI-generated resumes are making it harder for leaders to assess potential hires quickly and confidently. As a result, many employers are seeking additional support. Fifty-seven percent of legal leaders say the AI factor alone has made them more likely to turn to a staffing or consulting firm to help validate skills and accelerate hiring decisions.
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 qualified candidates faster and provide access to flexible talent options, including permanent, contract and interim professionals.
Find out more
Robert Half can help you secure the skilled administrative and customer support talent your organization needs to succeed in 2026.
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.
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 the U.S.
Over 1.5 million new positions from more than 9,000 independent job boards and company websites are represented in this report, including thousands of placements from Robert Half. Positions are categorized into more than 430 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, non-clinical healthcare, and human resources professions.
