Saskatchewan JobFutures

Nature of Work

Clerks in this occupational group perform a variety of administrative duties in support of management or administration. Their general duties include compiling, verifying and processing information in offices and other establishments throughout the public and private sectors.

Nature of Work

Clerks in this occupational group perform a variety of administrative duties in support of management or administration. Their general duties include compiling, verifying and processing information in offices and other establishments throughout the public and private sectors.

Duties

Administrative clerks compile, verify, record and process applications, licences, permits, contracts, registrations, requisitions and other forms and documents. Due to a various factors, the nature of this work varies from one office to another. First, offices and departments operate in accordance with different procedures, guidelines, schedules and regulations, and the work of individual support clerks depends on the protocol of their respective work places. Second, computers influence the specific duties of professionals in this occupational group; clerks may process information using manual or computerized processing systems. Nevertheless, many duties are common to most administrative clerks. Most clerks, for example, assist in the co-ordination of budget submissions, contracts administration, work schedules and/or other administrative procedures. They may also be responsible for providing information to staff and the general public regarding company and program rules, regulations and procedures; preparing routine reports; and maintaining inventory of office supplies and ordering supplies as required.

Some administrative clerks are charged with authorizing and issuing licences, permits, registration papers, reimbursements or other material. This is usually pending the receipt, processing and approval of requesting documents. Experienced clerks may also be responsible for organizing and co-ordinating the flow of work for general office clerks, clerk-typists and word processor operators.

Administrative support clerks are employed throughout the public and private sectors.

Personnel clerks perform various clerical duties in support of personnel officers and human resources specialists. Their specific duties may include processing, verifying and registering documentation related to such personnel activities as staffing, recruitment, training, grievances, labour relations, performance evaluations and classifications. They may also be responsible for maintaining and updating manual and computerized filing and registration systems, responding to telephone and written enquiries from staff and the general public, and compiling and preparing reports and documents relating to personnel activities.

Other clerical duties in personnel and human resources include arranging for the advertising or posting of job vacancies, assisting in the screening and rating of job applicants, conducting basic reference checks, and administering and scoring routine employment tests, such as typing and proofreading texts. Personnel clerks may also be responsible for arranging in-house and external training activities. Personnel clerks are employed in personnel departments throughout the public and private sectors.

Court clerks perform various support functions in federal and provincial courts of law. These functions include calling court to order, reading charges, taking defendants' pleas, maintaining court exhibits and preparing court files, dockets and other documents. Court clerks may also be responsible for receiving, disbursing and accounting for fines, fees and trust monies; assisting the public in court offices; and updating and maintaining court office indexes and files on actions taken by the court or in response to court decisions.

Example Titles

Administrative clerks:

• authorization clerk
• registration clerk
• by-law clerk
• documentation clerk
• passport clerk
• import clerk
• ward clerk
• licence clerk
• warranty clerk
• registry clerk
• customs clerk
• administrative clerk
• application clerk
• office administration clerk
• contract

Personnel clerks:

• human resources assistant
• human resources clerk
• labour relations clerk
• training clerk
• personnel clerk
• employment clerk
• classification clerk
• staffing clerk

Court clerks:

• court clerk/crier
• judicial clerk
• provincial court clerk
• court clerk

Training Paths

University of Regina grants certificates in Administration (Personnel) and Continuing Education Administration Development. SIAST also offers a variety of training programs for administrative support clerks. These include two year diploma programs in Business Administration, Human Resource Management and one-year certificate programs in Office Education, Business and advanced certificate programs in Medical Office Assistant and Computer Office Assistant.

The Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) offers certificate and diploma programs in accounting, Office Management, and Management Studies In some programs, students at University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada or SIAST may have the option of earning their diploma or degree through co-operative education programs. As well, various programs in business and office administration are offered at regional colleges and private vocational schools.

Trends and Outlooks

The employment prospects for this occupation are: fair

Administrative support clerks often deal more closely with people than do other support staff. Consequently, they are often less affected by technological change than many of their co-workers. Still, technology has altered--and in many cases, streamlined--the delivery of administrative services in many offices and departments. In several organizations during the nineties, this meant less demand in the work force for administrative support clerks.

Now for the good news. This downward trend seems to have ended. The number of administrative support clerks in Saskatchewan increased significantly between 2001 and 2006; from 1,890 to 3,100, according to Statistics Canada. Whether or not this rapid rate of increase continues, this remains a large, often low-paying occupation in Saskatchewan, and turnover will create numerous employment opportunities for administrative support clerks in the next few years, particularly in the trade; finance, insurance, real estate and leasing;educational services; and health care and social assistance industries.

Most administrative support clerks in the province earn less than the 2005 average Saskatchewan full time income ($42,298 per year). In 2005, the average full-time income for this occupational group was $36,698 per year. This marks very little change the full time average in 2000. Clerks in Saskatoon and Regina generally earn more than their counterparts elsewhere in the province.

There is a fairly high incidence of part-time employment in this occupational group; over 30% of all administrative support clerks in Saskatchewan worked less than full time in 2005. Employment is rarely seasonal, however, and self-employment is uncommon. Employment for administrative support clerks is not very sensitive to overall economic conditions. In 2006, the vast majority (90%) of administrative support clerks in Saskatchewan were female. Over 60% of the work force in these fields worked in the city or area surrounding Regina or Saskatoon that same year.

Although technology plays a limited role in the work of many administrative support clerks, it is essential that clerks continually upgrade their computer skills. Clerks who are experienced with the latest office technology may have an advantage over others seeking employment in these fields.

Professional Associations

Related Occupations

Administrative clerks:

• authorization clerk
• registration clerk
• by-law clerk
• documentation clerk
• passport clerk
• import clerk
• ward clerk
• licence clerk
• warranty clerk
• registry clerk
• customs clerk
• administrative clerk
• application clerk
• office administration clerk
• contract

Personnel clerks:

• human resources assistant
• human resources clerk
• labour relations clerk
• training clerk
• personnel clerk
• employment clerk
• classification clerk
• staffing clerk

Court clerks:

• court clerk/crier
• judicial clerk
• provincial court clerk
• court clerk