The UK executive support profession is changing fast. But if you read between the lines, the latest industry stats – provided by The PA Show – reveal a bigger story.

This isn’t just about how many Executive Assistants, Personal Assistants, Management Assistants, Executive Secretaries and management support professionals in related job titles are in the workforce or how salaries are rising.

It’s about what these numbers really mean for the future of the UK executive support sector and whether executive assistants are taking control of that future.

Let’s break it down.

4.3 million people in the UK work in administration and secretarial roles – 13% of the workforce

That’s a staggering number. Yet despite making up such a large part of the workforce, EAs and PAs still have to fight for recognition as strategic business assets.

Many organisations still see assistants as a cost rather than a value generator. The question isn’t whether Executive Assistants are essential; the data proves they are.

The question is: why are so many companies still failing to invest in them properly?

80% of EAs say they are expected to take on strategic and leadership responsibilities

There’s a huge difference between being expected to do something and being recognised for doing it. Expectation without recognition isn’t career growth; it’s scope creep. If companies truly want assistants to step up strategically, they need to stop treating leadership-level work as a “nice bonus” on top of admin tasks and start measuring, rewarding, and developing those skills.

67% of executive support professionals believe AI will enhance their role rather than replace it

They’re absolutely right. AI isn’t replacing assistants, but it is replacing low-value tasks. The real risk isn’t that AI will take EA jobs; it’s that companies that don’t understand the true value of their assistants will eliminate roles they don’t fully appreciate.

The best assistants are already adapting, learning how to leverage AI to streamline admin so they can focus on higher-value strategic work.

75% of EAs and PAs say networking and professional development are essential for career growth

Here’s the hard truth: your skills will not speak for themselves. The assistants who build strong professional networks and invest in their own learning will always be ahead of those who wait for their companies to provide training.

If your organisation isn’t giving you the opportunities you need, create them yourself. The most successful EAs take control of their own development, whether it’s through industry conferences, online learning, or executive coaching.

Top skills in demand

The skills most in demand for UK executive support professionals right now are:

• project & event management
• strategic business support
• tech & AI proficiency
• leadership & stakeholder management

Look at that list. It says a lot about the direction of the EA profession. The demand isn’t for traditional diary management or travel booking; it’s for skills that drive business impact. If you’re still being measured on inbox management rather than project execution, it’s time to start repositioning yourself. Your career security isn’t in how well you manage admin. It’s in how well you manage business outcomes.

94% of executives say that having a high-performing assistant significantly improves their productivity

This might be the most important number of all. When done well, the EA role is a business force multiplier. Yet too many assistants are still seen as “nice to have” rather than business-critical. If you want your executive to see you as indispensable, you have to position yourself as a strategic partner – not just a support function. That means actively shaping how you add value, not just waiting to be recognised for it.

Being essential isn’t enough

The stats are clear: executive support is evolving. The question is, are you evolving with it?

If you’re in a role that expects strategic work but doesn’t recognise it, it’s time to start changing the conversation. If you’re not getting the professional development you need, go and find it. And if you’re spending most of your time on admin instead of the high-value work you should be doing, start repositioning your role now.

Because assistants who wait for change to happen risk being left behind.