What Do Employment Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for employment specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what employment specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Employment Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about employment specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Employment Specialists advise and assist students and provide educational and vocational guidance services.
Popular Job Titles For Employment Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Academic Advisors
- Employment Specialists
- School Counselors
- People Managers
- Housing Specialists
- Assessment Specialists
- Scheduling Specialists
- Job Developers
- High School Counselors
- After School Counselors
- Financial Services Specialists
- Career Advisors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for employment specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Employment Specialists
Employment Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 45.1%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 18.5%
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools: 14.4%
- Elementary and Secondary Schools: 6.3%
- Vocational Rehabilitation Services: 2.5%
- Educational Support Services: 2.3%
- Other: 10.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of employment specialists can be found working in the Education and Hospitals (Local Government) sector. In 2022, about 45.1% of all jobs for employment specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Education and Hospitals (State Government) (18.5%), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (14.4%), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6.3%), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (2.5%) and Educational Support Services (2.3%).
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What Do Employment Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what employment specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work employment specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that employment specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for employment specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Employment Specialists
Based on 144,204 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Employment Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 22,200 | 15% |
| School Counseling | 16,561 | 11% |
| Social Work | 15,732 | 11% |
| Academic Advising | 15,497 | 11% |
| Psychology | 12,007 | 8% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Employment Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 66,747 | 46% |
| Customer Service | 35,418 | 25% |
| Writing | 33,319 | 23% |
| Management | 31,672 | 22% |
| Planning | 29,310 | 20% |
Based on 144,204 job postings related to employment specialists, student services was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 15% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for school counseling, social work, academic advising, psychology and case management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for employment specialists, followed by customer service, writing, management, planning and leadership.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Student Services | 22,200 | 15% |
| School Counseling | 16,561 | 11% |
| Social Work | 15,732 | 11% |
| Academic Advising | 15,497 | 11% |
| Psychology | 12,007 | 8% |
| Case Management | 11,445 | 8% |
| Marketing | 10,977 | 8% |
| Human Services | 8,980 | 6% |
| Auditing | 8,525 | 6% |
| Mental Health | 8,180 | 6% |
| Office Equipment | 6,745 | 5% |
| Disabilities | 6,673 | 5% |
| Rehabilitation | 6,659 | 5% |
| Project Management | 6,206 | 4% |
| Special Education | 6,182 | 4% |
| Data Entry | 6,098 | 4% |
| Student Information Systems | 5,970 | 4% |
| Higher Education | 5,815 | 4% |
| Student Engagement | 5,732 | 4% |
| Accounting | 5,215 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 66,747 | 46% |
| Customer Service | 35,418 | 25% |
| Writing | 33,319 | 23% |
| Management | 31,672 | 22% |
| Planning | 29,310 | 20% |
| Leadership | 27,422 | 19% |
| Problem Solving | 23,560 | 16% |
| Microsoft Office | 21,558 | 15% |
| Coordinating | 21,183 | 15% |
| Advising | 20,901 | 14% |
| Detail Oriented | 19,614 | 14% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 19,218 | 13% |
| Operations | 19,168 | 13% |
| Research | 18,337 | 13% |
| Presentations | 16,896 | 12% |
| Organizational Skills | 16,467 | 11% |
| Microsoft Excel | 16,465 | 11% |
| Teaching | 16,035 | 11% |
| English Language | 14,852 | 10% |
| Sales | 14,452 | 10% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Employment Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Advisors | 18,270 | 14.8% |
| Employment Specialists | 15,016 | 12.2% |
| School Counselors | 13,566 | 11% |
| People Managers | 11,657 | 9.5% |
| Housing Specialists | 9,755 | 7.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was academic advisors, with 6,344 unique job postings. Employment specialists were second, with 6,046 postings, followed by school counselors, people managers and housing specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to employment specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Academic Advisors | 18,270 | 14.8% |
| Employment Specialists | 15,016 | 12.2% |
| School Counselors | 13,566 | 11% |
| People Managers | 11,657 | 9.5% |
| Housing Specialists | 9,755 | 7.9% |
| Assessment Specialists | 4,379 | 3.6% |
| Scheduling Specialists | 7,390 | 6% |
| Job Developers | 4,330 | 3.5% |
| High School Counselors | 2,957 | 2.4% |
| After School Counselors | 3,779 | 3.1% |
| Financial Services Specialists | 3,245 | 2.6% |
| Career Advisors | 2,887 | 2.3% |
| Guidance Counselors | 3,207 | 2.6% |
| Career Coaches | 3,396 | 2.8% |
| Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors | 4,084 | 3.3% |
| Elementary School Counselors | 2,421 | 2% |
| Guest Services Specialists | 5,659 | 4.6% |
| College Counselors | 2,363 | 1.9% |
| Placement Specialists | 2,791 | 2.3% |
| Middle School Counselors | 1,908 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for employment specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for employment specialists.
How much do employment specialists make?
Employment Specialists: How do you become one?
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