Labor Relations Specialist Career
Labor relations specialists are responsible for interpreting and administering employment contracts, and ensuring companies are in compliance with the negotiated contract. They are the organization’s expert on the details of the contract, and provide reports to management regarding the status of the contract, recommend changes before negotiations begin, and stay informed of upcoming trends with respect to labor law and employee benefits.
Labor relations specialists work in organizations, often manufacturing and industrial environments, where employees are part of a union.
Labor Relations Specialist Career Snapshot
Typically, labor relations specialists work normal business hours, although they may work a significant amount of overtime as the terms of the negotiated contract end and the company and union representatives prepare to negotiate new terms. Most often, labor relations specialists will be employed by a company, although there are opportunities to serve as a consultant for large-scale corporations.
Further details on a career as a labor relations specialist are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary for labor relations specialists.
decline in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a Bachelor’s degree while 25% have a Master’s degree.
Labor Relations Specialist Education
Most companies will expect a labor relations employee to have a Bachelor’s degree, usually in human resources, business or industrial relations.
Labor Relations Specialist Job Duties
On a normal workday, labor relations specialists will review employee grievances, interpret employment benefits such as wages, healthcare and pension benefits. They will also meet regularly with managers at all levels to ensure they remain in compliance with the contract in the interest of good employee relations. They also serve as a conduit between the employee base and upper management.
Labor Relations Specialist Salaries
The median pay for labor relations specialists in the United States currently is $58,820 as reported in 2015 by the BLS.gov. Depending on the level of experience and the stakes of the contract, a labor relations specialist can make into the six figures. For example, if a contract is set to expire while the company is experiencing a challenging financial period, management may need to be more aggressive in achieving concessions from its unions. A high-performing labor relations specialists can be a valuable asset in high-stakes negotiations.
Labor Relations Specialist Job Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, union membership is actually declining, so labor relations specialists will be less in demand; overall employment is expected to decline by 8 percent by 2024.
Labor Relations Specialist Skills & Traits
| Labor Specialist Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used by Labor Specialists: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Active Listening • Speaking • Negotiation • Reading Comprehension • Persuasion | • Oral Expression • Oral Comprehension • Written Comprehension • Problem Sensitivity • Deductive Reasoning | • Inkjet printers • Laptop computers • Digital copiers • Handheld calculators • Image scanners | • Resolving Conflicts • Decision Making • Interpersonal Relationships • Getting Information • Communicating with Others |
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