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Special-interest groups' official

Also called trades union official, lobbying body official, campaign group official

Special-interest groups' officials represent and act on behalf of special-interest groups such as trade unions, employer organisations, trade and industry associations, sports associations and humanitarian organisations. They develop policies and ensure their implementation. Special-interest groups' officials speak for their members in negotiations about topics such as working conditions and safety.

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 help with only small parts of the tasks.Senior officials of special-interest organizations · ILO

What you'd do

Senior officials of special-interest organizations · ILO
  • Determining and formulating the policies, rules and regulations of the organization
  • Planning, directing and coordinating the general functioning of the organization
  • Reviewing the operations and results of the organization and reporting to boards of directors and governing bodies, the organization‚Äôs membership and funding agencies
  • Negotiating on behalf of the organization, its members and relevant special-interest groups
  • Promoting the interests of the organization, its members and relevant special-interest groups before the legislature, government or general public
  • Planning, organizing and directing sections charged with implementing the organization's policies, programmes, rules and regulations
  • Ensuring appropriate systems and procedures are developed and implemented to provide budgetary control
  • Monitoring and evaluating performance of the organization or enterprise against established objectives and policies
  • Representing the organization at official occasions and board meetings, in negotiations, at conventions, public hearings and forums
Manage government policy implementationAdvise on legislative actsConduct public presentationsMaintain relationships with government agenciesPerform public relations+ 20 more essential skills
What the work is like
  • Indoors
  • Sitting most of the day
  • Lots of contact with people
  • Good freedom to decide
  • Often more than 40 hours a week
  • Deadlines most weeks
  • Varied tasks, little repetition
US data: based on the O*NET profile of the related, broader US job "Labor Relations Specialists"

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
0 of 27 countries report a shortage of senior officials of special-interest organizations, 3 a surplus.
Senior officials of special-interest organizations · 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%
Field that teaches it
Political sciences and civics
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 help with only small parts of the tasks.

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 9 tasks
Monitoring and evaluating performance of the organization or enterprise against established objectives and policies0.46
Promoting the interests of the organization, its members and relevant special-interest groups before the legislature, government or general public0.42
Reviewing the operations and results of the organization and reporting to boards of directors and governing bodies, the organization’s membership and funding agencies0.40
Ensuring appropriate systems and procedures are developed and implemented to provide budgetary control0.38
Planning, directing and coordinating the general functioning of the organization0.37
Determining and formulating the policies, rules and regulations of the organization0.36
Planning, organizing and directing sections charged with implementing the organization's policies, programmes, rules and regulations0.35
Representing the organization at official occasions and board meetings, in negotiations, at conventions, public hearings and forums0.29
Negotiating on behalf of the organization, its members and relevant special-interest groups0.28

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 officials of special-interest organizations. Source: ILO (2025), adapted (credits).