Writer
Key facts
Writers develop content for books. They write novels, poetry, short stories, comics and other forms of literature. These forms of writing can be fictional or non-fictional.
Writers are the architects of stories and information. Your days might involve researching topics, developing plotlines, drafting manuscripts, revising and editing your work, and collaborating with editors or publishers. You’ll be immersed in the creative process, shaping language to evoke emotion, convey information, and entertain audiences. The work can be solitary, requiring focused concentration, but also involves communication and feedback to refine your craft.
- • Developing original content for books, including novels, poetry, short stories, and comics.
- • Conducting research to ensure accuracy and depth of information (especially for non-fiction writing).
- • Revising and editing your own work, paying close attention to grammar, style, and clarity.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Legal, social and cultural professionals — 186 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Denmark, Italy.
Longest-running shortage: Italy, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta, United Kingdom)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $76,910 2025-05 | +3.6% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +15.9% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Surplus reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | — |
| United Kingdom | Not reported | £36,865 2025-provisional | — |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
Source: Office for National Statistics, Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Open Government Licence v3.0
Do you guide students, clients or employees? Use this occupation data in your organisation.
Future Outlook for writer
The outlook for writer reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could writer change as AI adoption grows?
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Several task areas may shift toward AI-assisted workflows, so reskilling becomes more important.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- select subject matter
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- develop an artistic framework
- develop creative ideas
- critically reflect on artistic production processes
Tasks most exposed to automation
- consult information sources
- write dialogues
- write storylines
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Arts, Entertainment, & Design
A typical day as a writer
09 09:00 · Morning critically reflect on artistic production processes
10 10:30 · Mid-morning develop an artistic framework
12 12:00 · Midday perform background research on writing subject
14 14:00 · Afternoon use specific writing techniques
15 15:30 · Late afternoon write dialogues
17 17:00 · Wrap-up write storylines
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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develop an artistic framework
Develop a specific framework for research, creation and completion of artistic work.
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develop creative ideas
Developing new artistic concepts and creative ideas.
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critically reflect on artistic production processes
Critically reflect upon processes and outcomes of the artisitc production process in order to ensure quality of experience and/or product.
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write dialogues
Write conversations between characters.
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write storylines
Write the plot of a novel, play, film, or other narrative form. Create and develop characters, their personalities, and relationships.
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apply grammar and spelling rules
Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
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use specific writing techniques
Use writing techniques depending on the type of media, the genre, and the story.
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consult information sources
Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
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select subject matter
Select subject matter based on personal or public interest, or ordered by a publisher or agent.
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perform background research on writing subject
Run thorough background research on writing subject; desk-based research as well as site visits and interviews.
publishing market
The trends in the publishing market and the type of books that are are appealing to a certain audience.
- copyright legislation
- grammar
- literature
- publishing industry
- spelling
- types of literature genres
- writing techniques
- linguistics
Path to become a writer
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Bachelor's or equivalent level
252 programmes in 15 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 23 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Master of Arts in Creative Writing
University of Limerick · Ireland
Literary Studies
Universiteit Leiden · the Netherlands
Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Writing and Literature
Atlantic Technological University · Ireland
Graduate Diploma (Writing for Stage & Screen)
University College Dublin · Ireland
Certificate in Professional Report Writing
South East Technological University · Ireland
These are 6 of 275.
Sources
- 1. Source: Europass Qualification Dataset Register (European Commission)
- 2. Bron: DUO open onderwijsdata
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does writer fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What types of writing are considered within this occupation?
Is it common to work as a writer on a freelance basis?
What skills are particularly important for a successful writer?
Is there a shortage of Writer in Europe?
How much does Writer pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data