Administrative Professionals Day, also known as Administrative Assistants Day and formerly called Secretaries Day, is observed in the United States and Canada on the Wednesday of the last full week of April. The day recognizes administrative assistants, executive assistants, office managers, receptionists, and other professionals who play a vital role in keeping offices organized, efficient, and productive.
đź’Ľ Meaning and Significance
- Recognizes the broad responsibilities administrative professionals carry, from managing communications to coordinating projects.
- Emphasizes their role as strategic partners, not just support staff.
- Encourages employers to express appreciation through thoughtful gestures, including professional development opportunities alongside traditional flowers, cards, or lunches.
đź“… When is Administrative Professionals Day?
Administrative Professionals Day always falls on the Wednesday of the last full week of April. Here are the upcoming dates through 2030:
| Year | Day of the Week & Date |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Wednesday, April 23 |
| 2026 | Wednesday, April 22 |
| 2027 | Wednesday, April 21 |
| 2028 | Wednesday, April 26 |
| 2029 | Wednesday, April 25 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, April 24 |
🌍 Global Observance
Other countries observe the day at different times of the year:
- South Africa: First Wednesday of September
- Australia: First Friday in May
- Brazil: September 30
- Colombia: April 26 (in 2025, coincides with Children’s Day)
While dates vary, the shared theme is recognition of the often-unsung contributions of administrative professionals worldwide.
đź“ś Origins of the Day
The observance began in 1952 as National Secretaries Day, part of National Secretaries Week. It was created during a post–World War II shortage of skilled office workers to highlight the importance of the profession and encourage more people to pursue it.
Several key figures shaped the holiday’s creation:
- Mary Barrett, president of the National Secretaries Association (founded in 1942, now known as IAAP).
- C. King Woodbridge, president of Dictaphone Corporation.
- Harry F. Klemfuss and Daren Ball, public relations executives at Young & Rubicam.
The first Secretaries Day was held on June 4, 1952, before the date was moved to April in 1955. Over time, the name changed to reflect the evolving role of support staff: Professional Secretaries Day (1981) and finally Administrative Professionals Day (2000).
🎉 How People Celebrate
Administrative Professionals Day is often marked with gestures of gratitude that recognize both the personal and professional contributions of support staff. Common ways to celebrate include:
- Personalized thank-you notes or cards
- Team lunches or small office gatherings
- Thoughtful gifts such as planners, flowers, or gift cards
- Opportunities for professional growth through courses or conferences
Before You Go:
We have many more national days lists for you to explore.
- Food-related national days: complete list of national food days, pasta & noodles days, vegan & vegetarian days, celiac & gluten-free days, mushroom days, ice-cream days, pizza days, coffee days, chocolate days, wine days, alcohol & drinking days.
- Non-food national days: National Days Calendar 2025-2026 (check out the printable calendars in my Etsy shop), National Days for Teachers, and a wide array of special lists such as cat days, dog days, animal days, cleaning & organizing days, book days, music days, family & relationships days, national days for women, stationery days and even Harry Potter days.
- Country-specific national days: Australian national days, more coming soon.
