Word Processors and Typists

Use word processor, computer, or typewriter to type letters, reports, forms, or other material from rough draft, corrected copy, or voice recording. May perform other clerical duties as assigned.

The occupation of "Word Processors and Typists" faces an automation risk of 83.4%, closely aligned with the base risk percentage of 84.2%. This high susceptibility is primarily because the majority of the tasks performed in this field are repetitive, rules-based, and easily programmable. The most automatable tasks include performing other clerical duties—such as answering telephones, sorting and distributing mail, running errands, or sending faxes—which can be efficiently executed with current AI systems and robotic process automation. Additionally, checking completed work for spelling, grammar, punctuation, and format is now largely handled by advanced grammar-checking and natural language processing tools. Maintaining a computer filing system to store, retrieve, update, and delete documents is another area ripe for automation, as cloud-based document management systems increasingly handle this with minimal human input. Conversely, several tasks within this occupation are more resistant to automation due to the complexity or nuanced judgment required. Working with technical material, preparing statistical reports, and combining material from various sources necessitate comprehension, synthesis, and contextual awareness—skills that current AI systems only partially emulate. Managing schedules and setting dates for meetings also involve coordination, negotiation, and the handling of exceptions, which are not always straightforward for automated solutions. Lastly, operating and resupplying printers or computers—such as changing cartridges, adding paper, or loading data media—demands a physical presence and adaptability, making these activities less vulnerable to digital automation. The main bottleneck for automating this occupation lies in the skill of originality, which holds a low presence in the core job tasks (measured at just 1.9% and 1.8% in two separate assessments). This suggests that although most duties are easily programmable, truly inventive or creative input is rarely required, so automation isn’t significantly constrained by tasks necessitating novel solutions or innovative thinking. As a result, the consistent, rule-driven nature of most responsibilities within "Word Processors and Typists" enables high automation risk, with only a small spectrum of activities standing as barriers due to their reliance on human creativity, exception-handling, or manual dexterity.