Personnel and Labor Relations Specialists
Overview
Introduction
Personnel specialists, also known as human resources professionals, formulate policy and organize and conduct programs relating to all phases of personnel activity. Labor relations specialists serve as mediators between employees and the employer. They represent management during the collective-bargaining process when contracts with employees are negotiated. They also represent the company at grievance hearings, required when a worker feels management has not fulfilled its end of an employment contract. Th...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Earnings vary widely depending on the nature of the business and the size and location of the firm, as well as on the individual's job title, qualifications, and experience.
The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the median annual salary of human resources specialists was $61,920 in May 2018. The lowest 10 percent earned $37,180 or less annually, and the top 10 percent earned $105,930...
Work Environment
Personnel employees work in modern offices. A significant amount of time at the office is spent on the telephone, discussing details, histories, and possible alternatives. Face-to-face meetings are less common than telephone consultations. Personnel specialists are seldom required to work more than 35 or 40 hours per week, although they may do so if they are developing a program or special proj...
Outlook
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) predicts that employment for human resources specialists will grow about as fast as the average for all careers through 2028.
Instead of employing human resources specialists in-house, many companies are outsourcing work to firms that specialize in this function. Therefore, employment should be strong with employment and consulting firms that offer pers...
