Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists
What they do?
Secretaries perform administrative duties/clerical activities using office software and operating other office equipment.
Court recorders record verbatim proceedings of courts using stenomasks, electronic stenography machines or computerized recording equipment. They transcribe recorded proceedings according to established formats.
Medical transcriptionists record and trascribe surgical proceedings, medical reports and records from machine dictation or rough notes from medical reports, correspondence, and patient information.
Where they find work?
1. Health care and social assistance - 19.0%
2. Educational services - 12.0%
3. Public administration - 10.0%
4. Legal services - 9.0%
5. Other services (except public administration) - 7.0%
6. Construction - 5.0%
7. Finance and insurance - 4.0%
What education do I need?
1. To be a secretary (except legal and medical), you must have a high school diploma, and complete a one- to two-year college or other secretarial program, or have previous experience.
2. To be a legal secretary, you usually need a one- to two-year college program or other specialized course for secretaries or legal secretaries.
3. To be a medical secretary, you usually need a one- to two-year college program or other specialized course for secretaries or medical secretaries.
4. To be a court recorder or medical transcriptionist, you need a high school diploma. Court recorders must complete college or a program in court reporting. You may need a Certified Medical Transcriptionist (CMT) or Chartered Shorthand Reporter (CSR) certificate.
5. Almost 1 in 2 have a trade/vocational certificate, and 2 in 5 have a community college diploma.
High School Subject that will help:
1. English
2. Computer-related courses
3. Keyboarding
What can you expect to make:
The average hourly wages for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is $15.73/HR, which is close to the average for occupations in the business, finance and administration sector and are below average for all technical, professional, and skilled occupations. These wages grew at an above-average rate from 2002 to 2004.
Average Wage
Expected Wage by Age
Unemployment:
3% of Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists are unemployed. This rate is close to the average for technical, professional, and skilled occupations.
Unemployment
Trends in Unemployment
Current Job Outlook:
The job outlook for Secretaries, Recorders and Transcriptionists is considered Below Average because:
1. Employment grew at a below-average rate.
2. Hourly wages ($15.73) are close to the average ($18.07), and the rate of wage growth is above average.
3. The unemployment rate (3%) is close to the 2004 average (7%).
Future Job Prospects:
Your job outlook will continue to be Below Average because:
1. The employment growth rate will likely be below average because of an increased productivity from organizational restructuring and the adoption of new technologies.
2. Although the retirement rate will likely be above average, the number of retiring workers should contribute to job openings.
3. The number of job seekers will likely match the number of job openings.
Highest Concetration:
The highest concentrations (per 10,000 people) of secretaries, recorders and transcriptionists are found in Quebec and New Brunswick while the lowest concentrations are in Newfoundland and Manitoba.
Unionization Rate:
The unionization rate (34%) is close to the average (32%) for all occupations.
Useful Experience:
1. Computer literacy
2. Project organization
3. Record-keeping
