The business support and administration sector is starting to show signs of struggle, with the average salaries only increasing 2.3% in 2025.
In the previous year, the sector saw a sharper 6.7% increase, meaning there are signs the industry is slowing down. Research conducted by recruitment company, Reed, revealed salary increases across the sector, with certain job roles seeing more prominent increases than others.
For example, office manager salaries have increased by 7%, human resources assistants by 5%, and purchasing assistants by 4.9%. Once staples of the workplace, traditional roles like receptionist, customer service advisor, and general administrator are seeing a slowdown in demand across many regions. This is driven by the rise of hybrid work models and the rapid evolution of AI, reshaping the way businesses operate.
Despite these areas of growth, the research also highlighted that on the whole, the sector is lagging behind, with average advertised salary growth just 2.5%, compared to the average national salary increase of 5.3%. On top of this, some roles experienced decreases, such as legal secretary (-3.7%) and project co-ordinator (-2.9%).
Salaries in the sector also fall short of the national average, with business support and administration roles paying an average of £34,300 compared to the UK-wide equivalent of £39,000.
Workers throughout the UK are feeling the financial squeeze. More than a quarter (26%) of UK workers state they are left with £100 or less after essential bills each month, and nearly one in ten (7%) state their entire salary is consumed by necessities, leaving them with no disposable income whatsoever. For those in the business support sector, it's expected they'll be feeling the strain given salaries are falling below the national average.
Gillian Dolan, Business Support Recruitment Expert at Reed, said:
“While some salaries in the sector are increasing, they're not keeping pace with rising living costs. This is having a real impact on workers across the country.
“Hybrid work models and the rapid evolution of AI is reshaping the way businesses operate and affecting business support roles.
“With unemployment rates still causing concern, it's understandable if individuals in the business support sector are nervous about their role. Employers must recognise the importance of offering competitive salaries and benefits to attract and retain talent in these roles, especially as the cost of living continues to rise. As technology continues to change and certain job roles become obsolete, upskilling offers people a crucial way to stay employable. Without meaningful action to help workers adapt, we risk a further decline in the labour market – a shift that could ultimately impact businesses and the wider economy.
