Employer Relations Specialists: How to Become One

If you were to ask a group of employer relations specialists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.

That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for employer relations specialists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of employer relations specialists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.

Keep reading to learn more about career steps for employer relations specialists.

What Education & Experience is Needed for Employer Relations Specialists?

Do employer relations specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do employer relations specialists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for employer relations specialists to secure jobs.

Education Level Required in Job Postings for Employer Relations Specialists

No education was listed by most employers of employer relations specialists. According to job data, no education was required for 56% of positions. In 23% of job listings a bachelor's degree was required and in 10% of postings a High School diploma or GED was required.

Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Employer Relations Specialists

While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for employer relations specialists. In 38% of job postings for Employer Relations Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 28% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 24% of job postings for employer relations specialists.

What Kind of Degree Do Employer Relations Specialists Need?

So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for employer relations specialists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?

According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 10 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective employer relations specialists, and in 2021 a total of 147,973 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.

Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective employer relations specialists.

Top Degree Programs for Employer Relations Specialists

Top Online College For Working Adults

Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.

Degree Options for Employer Relations Specialists

What Skills Do Employer Relations Specialists Need?

Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by employer relations specialists to secure a job?

A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for employer relations specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.

In-Demand Skills for Today's Employer Relations Specialists
Based on 2,800 job postings

Based on 2,800 job postings related to employer relations specialists, labor relations was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 22% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for employee relations, collective bargaining, arbitration, legal hearings and labor law were also highly sought.

As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for employer relations specialists, followed by management, negotiation, writing, leadership and research.

Additional Links

Ready to dig deeper into career information about employer relations specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for employer relations specialists.

What do employer relations specialists do?
How much do employer relations specialists make?

All Occupations

The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.

View Other Occupations