Are Business Support Roles Dead? Or Are They Evolving?
Ask anyone in the corporate world today, and you’ll likely hear the same buzz: automation, AI, and leaner teams are changing the way businesses operate. It’s easy to wonder, are traditional business support roles, like admin assistants, office managers, and executive support, becoming obsolete?
Spoiler Alert! Not quite. But they’re evolving and fast.
Business support roles are no longer just about calendars, filing, or answering phones. Today, companies are looking for professionals who can manage complex workflows across departments, support executives strategically rather than just administratively, leverage tools like Microsoft 365, AI assistants, and project management platforms, and enhance organisational efficiency while contributing to decision-making. In short, these roles aren’t dead, they have now been upskilled.
Even in an AI-driven world, the human element is essential. People, not bots, maintain the connections that keep businesses running smoothly, solve complex problems that AI simply can’t prioritise, and act as the cultural “glue” that keeps teams engaged and communication flowing. The pandemic highlighted this value, with adaptable, skilled support staff facilitating remote collaboration and hybrid teams while keeping operations running seamless.
For those in or considering business support roles in Australia, the skills in demand are evolving. Being across tech and project coordination whilst having strong communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking are all key. Today’s support professionals are shifting from reactive “just get it done” tasks to proactive roles where they anticipate needs, solve problems, and contribute to the overall business strategy.
The bottom line is clear: business support roles aren’t dead. They’re transforming. Companies still need professionals to keep teams running efficiently, help adapt to change, and contribute meaningfully to organisational success. The admins of yesterday are becoming the operations partners, project coordinators, and executives support of tomorrow. For employers and candidates, the message is simple, invest in skills, embrace technology, and recognise that these roles are essential to helping businesses deliver and thrive.
At Stitch Recruitment, we know how critical these roles are. If you’re a business looking to hire support talent, or a professional looking to upskill in today’s evolving market, Stitch can help connect the dots.