PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND LABOR RELATIONS SPECIALISTS AND MANAGERS

Nature of the Work

Attracting the most qualified employees available and matching them to the jobs they are best suited for is important for the success of any organization.  However, many enterprises are too large to permit close contact between top management and employees.  Instead, personnel, training, and labor relations specialists and managers, commonly known as human resource specialists and managers, provide this link.  These individuals recruit and interview employees and advise on hiring decisions in accordance with policies and requirements that have been established in conjunction with top management.  In an effort to improve morale and productivity and limit job turnover, they also help their firms effectively use employees' skills, provide training opportunities to enhance those skills, and boost employees' satisfaction with their jobs and working conditions.

Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement

Because of the diversity of duties and level of responsibility, the educational backgrounds of personnel, training, and labor relations specialists and managers vary considerably.  In filling entry level jobs, firms generally seek college graduates.  Some employers prefer applicants who have majored in human resources, personnel administration, or industrial and labor relations, while others look for college graduates with a technical or business background. Still others feel that a well-rounded liberal arts education is best. Many colleges and universities have programs leading to a degree in personnel, human resources, or labor relations. 

Job Outlook

The number of personnel, training, and labor relations specialists and managers is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005.  As in other occupations, job growth among specialists is projected to outpace job growth among managers. However, the job market is likely to remain competitive in view of the abundant supply of qualified college graduates and experienced workers.

Earnings

According to a 1993 College Placement Council salary survey, bachelor's degree graduates who majored in human resources, including labor relations, received starting offers averaging $22,900 a year; master's degree recepients, $30,500. The median annual salary of personnel, training, and labor relations specialists was about $32,000 in 1992.  For managers, the median annual salary was over $37,000.  However, salaries varied widely. The lowest 10 percent of specialists earned around $17,000, while the highest 10 percent of managers earned nearly $64,000.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting the following organizations:

Society for Human Resource Management, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

American Society for Training and Development, 1640 King St., Box 1443, Alexandria, VA 22313.

American Compensation Association, 14040 Northsight Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260.

Industrial Relations Research Association, University of Wisconsin, 7226 Social Science Bldg., 1180 Observatory Dr., Madison, WI 53706.

American Hospital Association, American Society for Healthcare Human Resources, 840 North Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60611.

American Society for Healthcare Education and Training, 840 North Lake Shore Dr., Chicago, IL 60611.

International Association of Personnel in Employment Security, 1801 Louisville Rd., Frankfort, KY 40601.

International Personnel Management Association, IPMA Center for Personnel Research, 1617 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314.

