Labor Relations Specialists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of labor 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 labor 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 labor 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 labor relations specialists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Labor Relations Specialists?
Do labor relations specialists need a degree? What kind of experience do labor 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 labor relations specialists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Labor Relations Specialists
Jobs Postings for Labor Relations Specialists By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 6,037 (60%)
- No Education Listed: 1,632 (16%)
- Master's degree: 1,283 (13%)
- High School or GED: 618 (6%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 502 (5%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of labor relations specialists. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 60% of positions. In 16% of job listings no education level was listed and in 13% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Labor Relations Specialists
Jobs Postings for Labor Relations Specialists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 714 (12%)
- 2-3 Years: 2,012 (35%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,249 (39%)
- 7-9 Years: 532 (9%)
- 10+ Years: 254 (4%)
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 labor relations specialists. In 39% of job postings for Labor Relations Specialists, employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience. In 35% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 12% of job postings for labor relations specialists.
What Kind of Degree Do Labor 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 labor 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 labor relations specialists, and in 2023 a total of 131,996 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 labor relations specialists.
Top Degree Programs for Labor Relations Specialists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Labor Relations Specialists (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | 44,606 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | 44,606 |
| Sociology, General. | 33,034 |
| Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration. | 27,457 |
| Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General. | 16,602 |
| Operations Management and Supervision. | 5,855 |
| Labor and Industrial Relations. | 1,656 |
| Fire Services Administration. | 1,431 |
| Dispute Resolution. | 652 |
| Sociology and Anthropology. | 552 |
| Labor Studies. | 151 |
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Degree Options for Labor Relations Specialists
Find ways to attract, train, and retain the very best talent by implementing effective benefits and labor-relations strategies.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Class Type: 100% online
- Years To Complete: 3
Learn the strategic skills needed to be a leader in the evolving field of Human Resources.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Months To Complete: 14
- Accreditation: IACBE
- Placement Tests: GMAT/GRE not required for admission
What Skills Do Labor Relations Specialists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by labor 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 labor relations specialists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Labor Relations Specialists
Based on 8,306 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Labor Relations Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Relations | 5,844 | 70% |
| Labor Relations | 3,113 | 37% |
| Performance Management | 2,372 | 29% |
| Conflict Resolution | 1,815 | 22% |
| Labor Law | 1,798 | 22% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Labor Relations Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 4,693 | 57% |
| Communication | 4,022 | 48% |
| Investigation | 4,019 | 48% |
| Leadership | 2,777 | 33% |
| Writing | 2,756 | 33% |
Based on 8,306 job postings related to labor relations specialists, employee relations was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 70% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for labor relations, performance management, conflict resolution, labor law and employee relations investigations were also highly sought.
As for common skills, management was the most desired skill found in job postings for labor relations specialists, followed by communication, investigation, leadership, writing and problem solving.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Relations | 5,844 | 70% |
| Labor Relations | 3,113 | 37% |
| Performance Management | 2,372 | 29% |
| Conflict Resolution | 1,815 | 22% |
| Labor Law | 1,798 | 22% |
| Employee Relations Investigations | 1,622 | 20% |
| Employee Engagement | 1,210 | 15% |
| Regulatory Compliance | 1,028 | 12% |
| Human Resource Management | 987 | 12% |
| Collective Bargaining | 917 | 11% |
| Risk Mitigation | 894 | 11% |
| Project Management | 887 | 11% |
| Family And Medical Leave Act Of 1993 | 870 | 10% |
| Legal Hearings | 856 | 10% |
| Arbitration | 843 | 10% |
| Mediation | 789 | 9% |
| Human Resources Information System (HRIS) | 739 | 9% |
| Performance Improvement | 709 | 9% |
| Data Analysis | 703 | 8% |
| Employee Communications | 655 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Management | 4,693 | 57% |
| Communication | 4,022 | 48% |
| Investigation | 4,019 | 48% |
| Leadership | 2,777 | 33% |
| Writing | 2,756 | 33% |
| Problem Solving | 2,196 | 26% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,173 | 26% |
| Microsoft Office | 2,108 | 25% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,101 | 25% |
| Negotiation | 1,979 | 24% |
| Coaching | 1,702 | 20% |
| Research | 1,596 | 19% |
| Customer Service | 1,490 | 18% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,458 | 18% |
| Time Management | 1,405 | 17% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,269 | 15% |
| Operations | 1,252 | 15% |
| Multitasking | 1,227 | 15% |
| Organizational Skills | 1,203 | 14% |
| Presentations | 1,130 | 14% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about labor relations specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for labor relations specialists.
What do labor relations specialists do?
How much do labor relations specialists make?
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