What Do Labor Relations Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for labor relations specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what labor relations specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Labor Relations Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about labor relations specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Labor Relations Specialists resolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
Popular Job Titles For Labor Relations Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Employee Relations Specialists
- Employee Relations Partners
- Employee Relations Managers
- Employee Relations Consultants
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Human Resources Employee Relations Managers
- Employee and Labor Relations Specialists
- Employee Relations Coordinators
- Employee Engagement Specialists
- Employee Relations Generalists
- Employee Experience Specialists
- Employee Relations Advisors
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for labor relations specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Labor Relations Specialists
Labor Relations Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations: 78.4%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 2.8%
- Federal Government, Military: 2.1%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 1.4%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 1.4%
- Other: 11.9%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of labor relations specialists can be found working in the Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations sector. In 2023, about 78.4% of all jobs for labor relations specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (2.8%), Federal Government, Military (2.1%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2%), Education and Hospitals (State Government) (1.4%) and Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (1.4%).
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What Do Labor Relations Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what labor relations specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work labor relations specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that labor relations specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for labor relations specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - 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% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Labor Relations Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Relations Specialists | 4,000 | 32.2% |
| Employee Relations Partners | 1,156 | 9.3% |
| Employee Relations Managers | 1,083 | 8.7% |
| Employee Relations Consultants | 889 | 7.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 788 | 6.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was employee relations specialists, with 1,745 unique job postings. Employee relations partners were second, with 450 postings, followed by employee relations managers, employee relations consultants and labor relations specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to labor relations specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Employee Relations Specialists | 4,000 | 32.2% |
| Employee Relations Partners | 1,156 | 9.3% |
| Employee Relations Managers | 1,083 | 8.7% |
| Employee Relations Consultants | 889 | 7.2% |
| Labor Relations Specialists | 788 | 6.3% |
| Human Resources Employee Relations Managers | 620 | 5% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Specialists | 527 | 4.2% |
| Employee Relations Coordinators | 336 | 2.7% |
| Employee Engagement Specialists | 351 | 2.8% |
| Employee Relations Generalists | 315 | 2.5% |
| Employee Experience Specialists | 281 | 2.3% |
| Employee Relations Advisors | 267 | 2.2% |
| Labor Relations Managers | 291 | 2.3% |
| Labor Relations Representatives | 349 | 2.8% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Managers | 254 | 2% |
| Directors of Employee Relations | 149 | 1.2% |
| Labor Relations Consultants | 196 | 1.6% |
| Employee Engagement Coordinators | 212 | 1.7% |
| Employee Relations Associates | 160 | 1.3% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Consultants | 193 | 1.6% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for labor relations specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for labor relations specialists.
How much do labor relations specialists make?
Labor Relations Specialists: How do you become one?
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