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Public affairs consultant

Also called lobbyist, public affairs agent, public affairs officer

Public affairs consultants function as representatives for a client's goal. They attempt to persuade legislative bodies and policy makers to implement laws or regulation in accordance with the client's wishes, and negotiate with parties with potentially conflicting interests. They perform analytical and research duties in order to ensure that the client's cause is being addressed in an appropriate way to the appropriate parties. They also consult their clients on their causes and policies.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects57 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Business and administration professionalsWhat does it pay?Above averageFrom about €2,000 (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Business and administration professionalsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree8 in 10 have a degree.Business and administration professionalsWill AI change it?ModeratelyLevel 4 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Public relations professionals · ILO

What you'd do

Public relations professionals · ILO
  • Planning and organizing publicity campaigns and communication strategies
  • Advising executives on the public relations implications of their policies, programmes and practices preparing and controlling the issue of news and press releases
  • Undertaking and commissioning public opinion research, analysing the findings and planning public relations and promotional campaigns
  • Organizing special events, seminars, entertainment, competitions and social functions to promote goodwill and favourable publicity
  • Representing organizations and arranging interviews with publicity media
  • Attending business, social and other functions to promote the organization
  • Commissioning and obtaining photographs and other illustrative material
  • Selecting, appraising and revising material submitted by publicity writers, photographers, illustrators and others to create favourable publicity
Apply diplomatic principlesMaintain relationships with government agenciesProtect client interestsInfluence legislatorsPerform political negotiation+ 4 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • A mix of sitting and standing
  • Lots of contact with people, including the public
  • Some freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines every day
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the US job "Public Relations Specialists"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as business and administration professionals in the EU
6.65m9.73m13.35m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
2,909,000 new jobs 3,080,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Business and administration professionals57
All jobs29
Right now
4 of 27 countries report a shortage of public relations professionals, 7 a surplus.
Public relations professionals · EURES

What does it pay?

Above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €2,000 a month (Bulgaria) to €7,100 (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 professionals in the EU, women earn 21% less per hour than men. Professionals · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

A degree in political sciences and civics is the usual route.

Highest qualification of business and administration professionals (EU, 2025)
Degree 81%Vocational 11%General secondary 6%Basic schooling 2%
Fields that teach it
Political sciences and civics · Law
Vocational route, EU
1 in 10 trainees in this field
Social science graduates in a matching job
59% in the EU

927 institutions in the EU offer social science bachelor's degrees. Pick a country at the top of the page to see where to study and the official course finders.

Will AI change it?

Moderately

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 0.43 on a scale from 0 (AI can't do it) to 1 (AI could do it fully).

See the score for each of the 8 tasks
Undertaking and commissioning public opinion research, analysing the findings and planning public relations and promotional campaigns0.58
Advising executives on the public relations implications of their policies, programmes and practices preparing and controlling the issue of news and press releases0.48
Selecting, appraising and revising material submitted by publicity writers, photographers, illustrators and others to create favourable publicity0.48
Representing organizations and arranging interviews with publicity media0.47
Planning and organizing publicity campaigns and communication strategies0.44
Commissioning and obtaining photographs and other illustrative material0.34
Organizing special events, seminars, entertainment, competitions and social functions to promote goodwill and favourable publicity0.33
Attending business, social and other functions to promote the organization0.33

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 public relations professionals. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).