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Business and Finance

Labor Relations Specialists

Resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.

Visual summary of pay, outlook, skills, interests, and preparation for Labor Relations Specialists
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Median pay

$93,500
Median annual pay for Labor Relations Specialists.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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10-year growth

-0.1%
Projected employment growth from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Annual openings

5,100
Projected annual openings, including growth and replacement demand.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Employment

65,400
Estimated U.S. employment for Labor Relations Specialists in 2024.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024
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Jobs added or lost

-100
Projected numeric employment change from 2024 to 2034.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024–2034 projections
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Entry preparation

Bachelor's degree
Typical additional preparation: Less than 5 years of related work experience.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · 2024 profile
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O*NET occupation profile

What the work involves

Strongest O*NET signals first.

Essential skills

  1. 1Active Listening
  2. 2Speaking
  3. 3Critical Thinking
  4. 4Reading Comprehension
  5. 5Writing
  6. 6Active Learning

Knowledge areas

  1. 1Personnel and Human Resources
  2. 2English Language
  3. 3Law and Government
  4. 4Administration and Management
  5. 5Education and Training
  6. 6Customer and Personal Service

Abilities

  1. 1Oral Expression
  2. 2Oral Comprehension
  3. 3Problem Sensitivity
  4. 4Written Comprehension
  5. 5Written Expression
  6. 6Deductive Reasoning

Career interests

  1. 1Enterprising
  2. 2Conventional
  3. 3Social
  4. 4Investigative
  5. 5Artistic
  6. 6Realistic

Work styles

  1. 1Integrity
  2. 2Self-Control
  3. 3Dependability
  4. 4Social Orientation
  5. 5Stress Tolerance
  6. 6Attention to Detail

Work activities

  1. 1Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others
  2. 2Getting Information
  3. 3Making Decisions and Solving Problems
  4. 4Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
  5. 5Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
  6. 6Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards

Work context

  1. 1E-Mail
  2. 2Telephone Conversations
  3. 3Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  4. 4Contact With Others
  5. 5Freedom to Make Decisions
  6. 6Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Representative tasks

  • Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
  • Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
  • Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations.
  • Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
  • Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
  • Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify.
  • Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences.
  • Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment.

Software and tools

Workday software · in demandMicrosoft PowerPoint · in demandMicrosoft Outlook · in demandMicrosoft Office software · in demandMicrosoft Excel · in demandServiceNow · in demandOracle HRIS · in demandOracle PeopleSoft · hot technologyMicrosoft Word · hot technologyMicrosoft SharePoint · hot technologyMicrosoft Access · hot technologyKubernetes · hot technology

Sources

BLS provides national pay, employment, and projections. O*NET provides skills, interests, preparation, tasks, work context, and tools.

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