Employment agent
Also known as: job placement officer
About this occupation
Employment agents work for employment services and agencies. They match job seekers with advertised job vacancies and provide advice on job search activities.
Essential skills and knowledge
- interview people
- maintain privacy of service users
- communicate by telephone
- apply knowledge of human behaviour
- profile people
- labour legislation
- employment law
- promote gender equality in business contexts
- listen actively
- develop professional network
- job market offers
- document interviews
Typical tasks and preparation
From the related US occupation profile Compensation, Benefits, and Job Analysis Specialists (O*NET 13-1141.00). Linked by an official crosswalk: related, not identical; details vary by country.
- Administer employee insurance, pension, and savings plans, working with insurance brokers and plan carriers.
- Ensure company compliance with federal and state laws, including reporting requirements.
- Research employee benefit and health and safety practices, and recommend changes or modifications to existing policies.
- Advise managers and employees on state and federal employment regulations, collective agreements, benefit and compensation policies, personnel procedures, and classification programs.
- Plan and develop curricula and materials for training programs and conduct training.
- Assist in preparing and maintaining personnel records and handbooks.
- Typical education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Preparation
- Job Zone 4 of 5
- Interests
- Conventional, Enterprising, Social
Top skills: Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking, Critical Thinking, Writing, Active Learning
US median pay: US$78,210 a year (2025), 112,380 employed. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Subjects this work relies on
How important each subject's knowledge is in the job itself, rated by people doing it (1 to 5).
- English or Literature in EnglishO*NET: English LanguageVery important (4.0)
- Mathematics or StatisticsO*NET: MathematicsVery important (3.8)
- Business Studies or EntrepreneurshipO*NET: Administration and ManagementVery important (3.6)
- Economics or AccountingO*NET: Economics and AccountingImportant (3.3)
- Computer StudiesO*NET: Computers and ElectronicsImportant (3.0)
- Government and PoliticsO*NET: Law and GovernmentImportant (3.0)
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Preparation needed
Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- Most common education (US)
- Bachelor's Degree
- Education
- Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- Experience
- A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- Training
- Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.
Related occupations
Occupations O*NET links to this one by similar work, skills and knowledge.
- Compensation and Benefits Managers
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs
- Human Resources Specialists
- Human Resources Managers
- First-Line Supervisors of Office and Administrative Support Workers
- Administrative Services Managers
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Equal Opportunity Representatives and Officers
- Budget Analysts
O*NET data describe work in the United States; requirements differ by country. This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. CareerProof Global has modified all or some of this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.