Labor Relations Specialists
Also called: Business Agent, Business Representative, Labor Relations Specialist, Labor SpecialistResolve disputes between workers and managers, negotiate collective bargaining agreements, or coordinate grievance procedures to handle employee complaints.
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What the data says: AI could halve the time on 22 of its 28 tasks, yet jobs are projected to grow 2.1% by 2035. How to think about this →
About this projection
BLS builds AI into its projections where the research supports it: “BLS generally applies adjustments based on this research conservatively, where there is convincing evidence for a change.”
It also notes a limit: “BLS projection methods are not designed to capture extremely rapid technological change.”
On its AI exposure groups, BLS says exposure “does not imply job loss.”
Recent conditions
- In 2024, 3.4% of people in this work were unemployed, against 3.8% across all occupations Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Human resources workers”
- From Sep 2025 to Aug 2026, 7.7 hires for every 10 job openings in other services, which employs about 79% of people in this work, against 7.3 across all industries BLS JOLTS
One box per opening, filled for each hire; hires beyond the openings are added in a lighter shade. Higher can mean openings get filled, or that people leave often; lower, that jobs go unfilled, or hiring is slow.7.7 this industry7.3 all industries
Median pay by state BLS OEWS May 2025, state estimates
Tap a state for its figures.
Median pay in every state
| State | Median | Middle half earn | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $48,120 | $18,550 to $85,260 | 590 |
| Alaska | $77,870 | $61,880 to $94,740 | 380 |
| Arizona | $97,070 | $77,940 to $109,860 | 790 |
| Arkansas | $62,070 | $47,580 to $99,280 | 180 |
| California | $105,810 | $76,770 to $129,970 | 8,830 |
| Colorado | $87,150 | $73,890 to $121,120 | 470 |
| Connecticut | $79,620 | $64,330 to $126,520 | 1,240 |
| Delaware | $97,390 | $77,590 to $128,940 | 280 |
| District of Columbia | $115,600 | $97,650 to $153,990 | 160 |
| Florida | $81,700 | $62,720 to $104,230 | 1,970 |
| Georgia | $81,480 | $49,870 to $100,800 | 920 |
| Hawaii | $77,310 | $70,310 to $152,400 | 510 |
| Idaho | $93,110 | $50,520 to $100,490 | 190 |
| Illinois | $104,180 | $79,380 to $116,890 | 3,670 |
| Indiana | $77,190 | $45,260 to $95,060 | 2,600 |
| Iowa | $79,140 | $75,800 to $125,420 | 610 |
| Kansas | $82,750 | $77,940 to $100,410 | 370 |
| Kentucky | $73,550 | $53,140 to $79,200 | 640 |
| Louisiana | $78,110 | $64,780 to $98,930 | 170 |
| Maine | $96,680 | $73,740 to $122,340 | 210 |
| Maryland | $94,030 | $71,230 to $121,080 | 890 |
| Massachusetts | $111,260 | $81,610 to $132,350 | 1,660 |
| Michigan | $73,760 | $54,050 to $93,470 | 2,430 |
| Minnesota | $100,760 | $94,430 to $132,910 | 1,710 |
| Mississippi | $79,360 | $68,850 to $96,630 | 200 |
| Missouri | $93,840 | $79,480 to $108,270 | 1,190 |
| Montana | $70,360 | $62,030 to $96,120 | 160 |
| Nebraska | $81,910 | $74,640 to $105,950 | 270 |
| Nevada | $77,240 | $73,560 to $124,130 | 610 |
| New Hampshire | $84,780 | $60,650 to $140,230 | 150 |
| New Jersey | $118,370 | $86,600 to $132,830 | 3,700 |
| New Mexico | $83,770 | $75,010 to $102,290 | 120 |
| New York | $100,500 | $78,390 to $138,860 | 6,860 |
| North Carolina | $86,270 | $74,600 to $102,780 | 690 |
| North Dakota | $101,220 | $79,500 to $115,540 | 90 |
| Ohio | $80,150 | $73,770 to $101,130 | 4,100 |
| Oklahoma | $62,400 | $55,000 to $99,780 | 250 |
| Oregon | $80,490 | $57,490 to $122,680 | 1,210 |
| Pennsylvania | $91,320 | $70,780 to $122,580 | 3,470 |
| Puerto Rico | $58,830 | $42,450 to $66,940 | 120 |
| Rhode Island | $88,030 | $61,720 to $138,890 | 410 |
| South Carolina | $78,050 | $50,900 to $105,300 | 340 |
| South Dakota | $57,900 | $52,820 to $105,250 | 100 |
| Tennessee | $76,930 | $55,120 to $106,770 | 560 |
| Texas | $79,640 | $61,260 to $106,660 | 2,590 |
| Utah | $61,190 | $57,780 to $122,680 | 250 |
| Vermont | $85,870 | $68,260 to $117,460 | 120 |
| Virginia | $98,730 | $78,290 to $124,620 | 990 |
| Washington | $104,100 | $76,960 to $129,600 | 2,760 |
| West Virginia | $88,020 | $79,460 to $112,010 | 420 |
| Wisconsin | $95,750 | $63,810 to $122,180 | 1,690 |
| Wyoming | $87,310 | $76,680 to $98,210 | 60 |
Nationally: $95,420. Shades run from the lowest state median to the highest; a territory below that range takes the lightest. How to read this
How AI touches the work
What AI could speed up, task by task, and where people already use it.
AI could halve the time on 22 of its 28 tasks
| AI rating | Its main tasks | Share of Claude conversations May 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Not much | Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability. | Not published |
| AI + software | Negotiate collective bargaining agreements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Review employer practices or employee data to ensure compliance with contracts on matters such as wages, hours, or conditions of employment. | Not published |
| AI + software | Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes. | Not published |
| AI + software | Mediate discussions between employer and employee representatives in attempt to reconcile differences. | Not published |
| AI + software | Propose resolutions for collective bargaining or other labor or contract negotiations. | Not published |
See all 28 tasks
| AI + software | Research case law or outcomes of previous case hearings. | Not published |
| Not much | Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances. | Not published |
| Not much | Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements. | Not published |
| AI + software | Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives. | Not published |
| AI + software | Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare evidence for disciplinary hearings, including preparing witnesses to testify. | Not published |
| AI + software | Draft rules or regulations to govern collective bargaining activities in collaboration with company, government, or employee representatives. | Not published |
| AI + software | Assess risk levels associated with collective bargaining strategies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Select mediators or arbitrators for labor disputes or contract negotiations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Present the position of the company or of labor during arbitration or other labor negotiations. | Not published |
| AI alone | Schedule or coordinate the details of grievance hearings or other meetings. | Not published |
| AI + software | Identify alternatives to proposals of unions, employees, companies, or government agencies. | Not published |
| AI + software | Write letters related to labor relations activities, such as letters to amend collective bargaining agreements, letters of dispute or conciliation, or letters to seek clarification of contract terms. | Not published |
| AI + software | Assess the impact of union proposals on company or government operations. | Not published |
| Not much | Review and approve employee disciplinary actions, such as written reprimands, suspensions, or terminations. | Not published |
| AI + software | Advise management on matters related to the administration of contracts or employee discipline or grievance procedures. | under 0.01% |
| Not much | Train managers or supervisors on topics related to labor relations, such as working conditions, safety, or equal opportunity practices. | Not published |
| Not much | Provide expert testimony in legal proceedings related to labor relations or labor contracts. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop employee health and safety policies. | Not published |
| AI alone | Develop methods to monitor employee satisfaction with policies or working conditions, including grievance or complaint procedures. | Not published |
| AI + software | Prepare reports or presentations to communicate employee satisfaction or related data to management. | Not published |
| AI alone | Prepare and submit required governmental reports or forms related to labor relations matters, such as equal employment opportunity (EEO) forms, new hire forms, or minority compensation reports. | Not published |
Ordered by how important O*NET's respondents rate each task (1 to 5) times the share who say it is part of their job. The ordering is ours. 1 of the 28 have a published share of Claude conversations; “not published” means too few conversations for Anthropic to publish a figure.
Where people already use AI
The tasks above say what AI could speed up. This shows what people are using it for. Its 28 tasks fall under 13 work activities that many occupations share, and Microsoft counted how often each one came up in 200,000 conversations with its Copilot assistant in 2024.
- #4 Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise
- #11 Provide information to guests, clients, or customers
| Work activity | This occupation's tasks under it | People asked AI for help in 10,000 conversations |
AI did it for them in 10,000 conversations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negotiate contracts or agreements | |||
| Monitor operations to ensure compliance with regulations or standards | |||
| Develop organizational policies, systems, or processes | |||
| Maintain current knowledge in area of expertise | |||
| Provide information to guests, clients, or customers | |||
| Evaluate programs, practices, or processes | |||
| Advise others on business or operational matters | |||
| Investigate criminal or legal matters |
Show all 13 activities
| Analyze business or financial risks | |||
| Prepare legal or regulatory documents | |||
| Coordinate group, community, or public activities | |||
| Train others on operational or work procedures | |||
| Present information in legal proceedings |
How people in this work use Claude
What people in this work made with Claude % of conversations
- A document or report32%
- Advice or a recommendation28%
- An email or message21%
- A plan or strategy6%
- An analysis or summary3%
How they worked with Claude
94% of these conversations were about work. Anthropic Economic Index, May 2026.
How to read this
Work activities come from O*NET, which links every task to the broader activities it involves. Microsoft's figures are for the activity across everyone who used Copilot, not for labor relations specialists specifically. Copilot is a general chat assistant; dedicated coding tools are not included, so programming help is under-counted here. Activities are listed by how many of this occupation's tasks fall under them.
The task ratings say whether AI could halve the time a task takes: on its own (“AI alone”), or with software built on it (“AI + software”). They were made by people in 2023 (Eloundou et al.). Claude's share is the task's share of all Claude.ai conversations in May 2026; Anthropic doesn't publish a task with too few conversations. None of these add up to the BLS exposure group, which combines five research measures.
More in the Guide: task ratings · task order · work activities · Copilot figures · Claude
High exposure doesn't mean fewer jobs
BLS projects most occupations in its two most exposed groups to grow: 141 of 206 rated Very high and 165 of 206 rated High. Each dot is one of the 831 occupations BLS rates.
Career moves into and out of this occupation
From moves between occupations found in online resumes, 2002–2016. Career changes only: a first job after school isn't a move.
Where people moved next
of 1,791 moves out
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 8%
- 2 Mental Health Counselors 4%
- 3 Health Education Specialists Very high +5.6% 4%
- 4 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 3%
- 5 Special Education Teachers, Middle School High -0.4% 3%
Where people moved in from
of 1,515 moves in
- 1 Managers, All Other (2010 group) an older group BLS has since split; no exposure group today 9%
- 2 Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand Low +1.8% 8%
- 3 Mental Health Counselors 5%
- 4 Customer Service Representatives Very high -5.3% 5%
- 5 Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive Very high -6.0% 4%
Resumes over-represent younger, white-collar job-seekers and moves into management. Schubert, Stansbury and Taska (resume data).
Education and training for the occupation
O*NET survey of workers in this occupation
- 5% less than high school
- 5% high school
- 5% postsecondary certificate
- 10% some college
- 10% associate's
- 33% bachelor's
- 10% post-bachelor's certificate
- 10% master's
- 10% professional doctorate
- 5% research doctorate
O*NET 31.0 survey of workers in this occupation · 21 people answered.
Census survey (American Community Survey)
- 1% less than high school
- 10% high school
- 15% some college
- 8% associate's
- 46% bachelor's
- 19% master's
- 1% professional degree
- 1% doctorate
Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Human resources workers” · 9,902 people surveyed.
Why the two can differ
O*NET asks about 20 people in each occupation, which makes its shares uncertain, but it reports the exact occupation and counts certificates. The Census survey reaches thousands, but it groups some occupations together and counts degrees only. More in the Guide
Median pay by highest degree full-time, year-round · Census ACS 2024, all workers in the Census group “Human resources workers”
4 programs, such as Dispute Resolution, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General and Labor and Industrial Relations.
See all
- Dispute Resolution
- Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
- Labor and Industrial Relations
- Labor Studies
Jobs that require a credential BLS Occupational Requirements Survey 2023
42.2% this occupation
45.3% all occupations
| By kind | This occupation | All occupations |
|---|---|---|
| a license | <0.5% | 19.1% |
| an educational certificate | <0.5% | 2.8% |
| a certification | not published |
Share of jobs whose employer requires it. BLS doesn't say which credential. How to read this
Look up certifications, training and licenses U.S. Department of Labor
- Certification Finder ↗ certifications CareerOneStop lists for this occupation
- Training Finder ↗ schools and programs, nationwide; narrow the place there
- License Finder ↗ licenses by state
- Apprenticeships: DOL's list of apprenticeable occupations doesn't include this one.
These open in a new tab and send only the occupation's public code. More in the Guide
BLS AI exposure categories (Aug 2026) · BLS Employment Projections 2025–35 · O*NET 31.0 · Task ratings: Eloundou et al., Science (2024) · Microsoft "Working with AI" v1.1 · Anthropic Economic Index (2026-06-26) · Schubert, Stansbury and Taska · NCES CIP–SOC · Census ACS 2024 · BLS JOLTS
See it online, and explore any career: https://www.pathmosaic.com/card/13-1075.00