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Secretary general

Also called first secretary, secretary-general, general secretary

Secretaries general head international governmental or nongovernmental organisations. They supervise staff, direct policy and strategy development, and function as main representative of the organisation.

Will there be jobs?Yes, good prospects37 jobs to fill by 2035 for every 100 people doing this work today.Chief executives, senior officials and legislatorsWhat does it pay?Well above averageFrom about €3,100 (Latvia) to €11,700 (Luxembourg) a month, depending on the country.Estimate · Chief executives, senior officials and legislatorsWhat do I need to study?Usually a degree7 in 10 have a degree.Chief executives, senior officials and legislatorsWill AI change it?LittleLevel 2 of 6. AI could take on part of some tasks, but none fully.Senior government officials · ILO

What you'd do

Senior government officials · ILO
  • Advising national, state, regional or local governments and legislators on policy matters
  • Advising on the preparation of government budgets, laws and regulations, including amendments
  • Establishing objectives for government departments or agencies in accordance with government legislation and policy
  • Formulating or approving and evaluating programmes and procedures for the implementation of government policies in conjunction or consultation with government
  • Recommending, reviewing, evaluating and approving documents, briefs and reports submitted by middle managers and senior staff members
  • Ensuring appropriate systems and procedures are developed and implemented to provide budgetary control
  • Coordinating activities with other senior government managers and officials
  • Making presentations to legislative and other government committees regarding policies programmes or budgets
  • Overseeing the interpretation and implementation of government policies and legislation by government departments and agencies
Represent national interestsCoordinate government activities in foreign institutionsMaintain relationships with government agenciesApply conflict managementConduct financial audits+ 3 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Constant contact with people, including the public
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Some repetitive tasks
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the similar US job "Chief Executives"

Will there be jobs?

Yes, good prospects

Many jobs will need filling by 2035.

People working as chief executives, senior officials and legislators in the EU
1.63m1.79m1.87m 201520232035

Solid: measured. Dashed: forecast.

Jobs to fill, 2026–2035
93,000 new jobs 567,000 replacing leavers
Jobs to fill per 100 people working now
Chief executives, senior officials and legislators37
All jobs29
Right now
2 of 27 countries report a shortage of senior government officials, 5 a surplus.
Senior government officials · EURES

What does it pay?

Well above average

Pay depends a lot on the country: from about €3,100 a month (Latvia) to €11,700 (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 managers in the EU, women earn 27% less per hour than men. Managers · Eurostat

What do I need to study?

Usually a degree

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

Highest qualification of chief executives, senior officials and legislators (EU, 2025)
Degree 71%Vocational 19%General secondary 7%Basic schooling 4%
Fields that teach it
Political sciences and civics · Finance, banking and insurance
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?

Little

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

See the score for each of the 9 tasks
Recommending, reviewing, evaluating and approving documents, briefs and reports submitted by middle managers and senior staff members0.54
Advising on the preparation of government budgets, laws and regulations, including amendments0.43
Ensuring appropriate systems and procedures are developed and implemented to provide budgetary control0.39
Making presentations to legislative and other government committees regarding policies programmes or budgets0.38
Overseeing the interpretation and implementation of government policies and legislation by government departments and agencies0.36
Formulating or approving and evaluating programmes and procedures for the implementation of government policies in conjunction or consultation with government0.35
Establishing objectives for government departments or agencies in accordance with government legislation and policy0.35
Advising national, state, regional or local governments and legislators on policy matters0.35
Coordinating activities with other senior government managers and officials0.24

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 senior government officials. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).