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
- Labor Relations Specialists
- Employee and Labor Relations Specialists
- Union Organizers
- Day Laborers
- General Laborers
- Mason Laborers
- Mechanic Laborers
- Delivery Drivers
- Stock Takers
- Employer Relations Specialists
- Employee Relations Managers
- Grievance and Appeals Specialists
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: 79.9%
- Management of Companies and Enterprises: 2.4%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 2.3%
- Federal Government, Military: 2.2%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 1.5%
- Education and Hospitals (State Government): 1.2%
- Other: 10.5%
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 2022, about 79.9% of all jobs for labor relations specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Management of Companies and Enterprises (2.4%), State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (2.3%), Federal Government, Military (2.2%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (1.5%) and Education and Hospitals (State Government) (1.2%).
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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 2,800 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Labor Relations Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations | 608 | 22% |
| Employee Relations | 321 | 11% |
| Collective Bargaining | 271 | 10% |
| Arbitration | 219 | 8% |
| Legal Hearings | 170 | 6% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Labor Relations Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 666 | 24% |
| Management | 619 | 22% |
| Negotiation | 453 | 16% |
| Writing | 391 | 14% |
| Leadership | 323 | 12% |
Based on 2,800 job postings related to labor 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 labor relations specialists, followed by management, negotiation, writing, leadership and research.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations | 608 | 22% |
| Employee Relations | 321 | 11% |
| Collective Bargaining | 271 | 10% |
| Arbitration | 219 | 8% |
| Legal Hearings | 170 | 6% |
| Labor Law | 168 | 6% |
| Conflict Resolution | 157 | 6% |
| Appeals | 138 | 5% |
| Mediation | 128 | 5% |
| Fire Protection | 115 | 4% |
| Promotional Merchandise | 110 | 4% |
| Human Resource Management | 103 | 4% |
| Auditing | 102 | 4% |
| Contract Management | 102 | 4% |
| Warehousing | 98 | 4% |
| Project Management | 93 | 3% |
| Data Analysis | 90 | 3% |
| Accounting | 88 | 3% |
| Performance Management | 88 | 3% |
| Industrial Relations | 80 | 3% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 666 | 24% |
| Management | 619 | 22% |
| Negotiation | 453 | 16% |
| Writing | 391 | 14% |
| Leadership | 323 | 12% |
| Research | 319 | 11% |
| Customer Service | 302 | 11% |
| Problem Solving | 282 | 10% |
| Investigation | 277 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 254 | 9% |
| Lifting Ability | 240 | 9% |
| Operations | 224 | 8% |
| Microsoft Excel | 223 | 8% |
| Microsoft Office | 211 | 8% |
| Detail Oriented | 201 | 7% |
| Planning | 191 | 7% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 165 | 6% |
| Coordinating | 156 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 146 | 5% |
| Computer Literacy | 144 | 5% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Labor Relations Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | 1,211 | 31.6% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Specialists | 430 | 11.2% |
| Union Organizers | 423 | 11% |
| Day Laborers | 78 | 2% |
| General Laborers | 151 | 3.9% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was labor relations specialists, with 407 unique job postings. Employee and labor relations specialists were second, with 79 postings, followed by union organizers, day laborers and general laborers.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to labor relations specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Labor Relations Specialists | 1,211 | 31.6% |
| Employee and Labor Relations Specialists | 430 | 11.2% |
| Union Organizers | 423 | 11% |
| Day Laborers | 78 | 2% |
| General Laborers | 151 | 3.9% |
| Mason Laborers | 83 | 2.2% |
| Mechanic Laborers | 255 | 6.7% |
| Delivery Drivers | 48 | 1.3% |
| Stock Takers | 98 | 2.6% |
| Employer Relations Specialists | 76 | 2% |
| Employee Relations Managers | 68 | 1.8% |
| Grievance and Appeals Specialists | 117 | 3.1% |
| Arbitration Specialists | 66 | 1.7% |
| Laborers | 56 | 1.5% |
| Grievance and Appeals Coordinators | 486 | 12.7% |
| Labor Managers | 34 | 0.9% |
| Reconciliation Specialists | 40 | 1% |
| Grievance Coordinators | 29 | 0.8% |
| Hourly Managers | 27 | 0.7% |
| Sales Negotiators | 58 | 1.5% |
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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