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File clerk

Also called file keeper, filing clerk, archive clerk

File clerks are in charge of maintaining records of a company and managing forms and information. They organise and retrieve documents when necessary and ensure an efficient working system.

Will there be jobs?Limited prospectsFewer people are expected to do this work by 2035.Other clerical support workersWhat does it pay?Below averageFrom about €1,100 (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Other clerical support workersWhat do I need to study?Upper secondary or vocational5 in 10 finished upper secondary or vocational training.Other clerical support workersWill AI change it?In some tasksLevel 3 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Filing and copying clerks · ILO

What you'd do

Filing and copying clerks · ILO
  • Sorting or classifying materials according to guidelines such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order
  • Filing material in drawers, cabinets and storage boxes
  • Locating and remove materials from files when requested
  • Keeping records of materials filed and removed
  • Photocopying, scanning or faxing documents
File documentsOrganise business documentsPerform records managementFacilitate access to informationUse office systems+ 6 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Usually 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "File Clerks"

Will there be jobs?

Limited prospects

Fewer jobs than in most work will need filling by 2035.

People working as other clerical support workers in the EU
1.69m1.67m1.11m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035

More people will leave this work than new people are needed.

Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Other clerical support workers-1
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of filing and copying clerks, 5 a surplus.
Filing and copying clerks · EURES

What does it pay?

Below average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €1,100 a month (Bulgaria) to €5,000 (Luxembourg), before tax.

Pick a country at the top of the page to see typical pay there, for people under 30, and compared with all jobs.

Among clerical support workers in the EU, women earn 9% less per hour than men. Clerical support workers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Upper secondary or vocational

Upper secondary or vocational training is the usual route.

Highest qualification of other clerical support workers (EU, 2025)
Degree 37%Vocational 37%General secondary 14%Basic schooling 11%

Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

In some tasks

AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.

How exposed is this job? ILO scale
Very low
Low
Some tasks
Moderate
Significant
High

Average task score 0.37 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 5 tasks
Keeping records of materials filed and removed0.60
Sorting or classifying materials according to guidelines such as content, purpose, user criteria, or chronological, alphabetical, or numerical order0.43
Locating and remove materials from files when requested0.39
Filing material in drawers, cabinets and storage boxes0.25
Photocopying, scanning or faxing documents0.17

Based on what AI could technically do when assessed in 2025. It is not a forecast for a future year, and not a forecast of job losses. Scores for filing and copying clerks. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).