| Quick Links |  |
|
 On-campus interviewing, career days and job postings Login: Students/Alumni | Employers |
| Top Sponsors | |
 |
|
|
Introduction
The Labor Studies major is designed to prepare students for a wide variety of careers, including those in human resources management, industrial relations, state and federal government agencies, and labor organizations. The function of managing labor relations is performed in all organizations; large and small, private and public, profit and non-profit.
The field of labor relations covers the relationship between the management of a company and its unionized employees. The labor relations staff interprets and administers contracts with respect to grievances, wages and salaries, employee welfare, health care, pensions, union and management practices. Entry level jobs for local and national unions include organizing, representation (bargaining or grievance handling) and specializing in research, education, legislative affairs, occupational safety and health, etc. Jobs as "neutrals" typically require a master's or law degree. Neutrals work in state organizations (Public Employees Relation Commission, state mediation board), federal agencies (National Labor Relations Board, Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, Federal Labor Relations Authority), or are self employed.
Entry level workers usually enter formal or on-the-job training programs. Later, they may advance to a managerial position, overseeing a major element of the labor relations program. A master's degree or higher is desirable for individuals seeking these and general top management positions. Many choose to pursue master's degrees in labor studies, law, industrial relations, business or human resources management.
A Sample of Related Occupations
| Account Representative | Employee Relations Representative | Labor Relations Manager |
| Affirmative Action Coordinator | Employee Welfare Manager | Lawyer |
| Arbitrator | Employment Counselor | Occupational Analyst |
| Compensation Manager | Federal/State Mediator | Personnel Consultant |
| Conciliator | Human Resources Administrator | Placement Manager |
| Dispute Resolution Specialist | Industrial Relations Director | Recruiter |
| EEO Representative | Job Analyst | Training Specialist |
| Employee Benefits Manager | Labor Organizer | Union Staff Representative |
Types of Employers
| Private & Non-profit Organizations | ||
| Chamber of Commerce | Insurance Companies | Pharmaceutical Companies |
| Consulting Firms | Labor Organizations / Unions | Real Estate Firms |
| Educational Institutions | Law Offices | Research Organizations |
| Employee Benefit Firms | Magazines / Newspapers | Retail Firms |
| Financial Institutions | Manufacturing Firms | Transportation Organizations |
| Healthcare Facilities | Personnel Agencies | Utilities |
| Government Agencies | ||
| Bureau of Labor Statistics | Internal Revenue Service | Public Empl. Relation Commission |
| Department of Human Services | International Trade Commission | Small Business Administration |
| Department of Labor | Legislative Affairs | U.S. Customs Service (Treasury) |
| EEO Commission | Occupational Safety & Health Admin. | |
| Federal Trade Commission | Office of Personnel Management | |
Jobs Obtained by Rutgers Graduates
| First Jobs of Recent Graduates | |
| Account Executive, Alan Taylor Communications | Employee Relations Specialist, Caesar's Casino |
| Assistant Manager, Enterprise Rent-A-Car | Financial Planning Specialist, AT&T |
| Asst. Personnel Admin., Human Resource Dept. | Human Resource Mgmt. Trainee, Cintas Corp. |
| Benefits Consultant, Johnson & Johnson | Human Resources Generalist, Resolution Trust Corp. |
| Benefits Supervisor, JVC | Safety Manager, Cooperheat, Inc. |
| Career Counselor, DeVry Technical Institute | Senior Manager, R.H. Macy & Company |
| Claims Adjuster, NJ Manufacturer's Insurance Co. | Staff Representative, Comm. Workers of America |
| Community Health Coordinator, RWJ Hospital | Staff Training Coordinator, ITT Job Training Service |
| Employee Benefits Admin., Rhone-Poulenc, Inc. | Underwriter, Seabury & Smith Organization, Inc. |
| Jobs of Experienced Alumni | |
| Account Representative, Kimberly-Clark Corp. | Labor Relations Rep., Long Island Railroad |
| Administrator, Blue Cross-Blue Shield | Legislative Librarian, Office of Legislative Services |
| Assistant Dean, Mason Gross School of the Arts | Manager of Benefits, Sarnoff |
| Assistant Manager, First Fidelity Bank | Manager, Corporate Benefits, Johnson & Johnson |
| Assistant Professor, Hofstra University (PhD) | Organizer, AFL-CIO |
| Attorney, Kalter, Kaplen & Zeiger (JD) | Organizing Coordinator, Comm. Workers of Amer. |
| Contract Specialist, US Army | Personnel Administrator, Wang Laboratories |
| Director of Special Projects, Senate Republican Majority | Personnel Asst., NJ Board of Public Utilities (MLER) |
| Director, Business Devel., Morrell & Assoc. | Placement Specialist, Washington Institute of Employment |
| Director, Corp. Labor Relations, J&J (MS Human Res.) | Police Officer, New Brunswick Police |
| District Agent, Prudential Insurance | Project Planning Manager, New Jersey Transit |
| Education & Training Coordinator, NJ AFL/CIO | Public Health Advisor, New Jersey Health Dept. |
| Employee Devel. Manager, NJ Natural Gas Co. | Quality Assurance Director, Baxter Travenol Labs |
| Employee Relations Manager, Tenneco Inc. | Recruiter, SCORE! (MLER) |
| English Teacher, E. Brunswick H.S. (M.Ed.) | Reporter, CWA State Worker, Newspaper |
| Fraud Specialist, Merrill Lynch | Sr. Employment Coord., DeVry Institute |
| Human Resource Manager, Liberty Science Center (MHRM) | Sr. Staff Rep., Communication Workers of America |
| Human Resources Director, Hamilton Hospital | Systems Manager, AT&T Corporate Headquarters |
| Industrial Relations Manager, Alpha Wire Corp. | Vice President, Bankers Trust Company |
| Judicial Clerk, NJ State Superior Court | Writer, National Education Associates |
Graduate Schools Attended
| Brooklyn Law School, JD, Law | Rutgers, Sch. of Mgmt. & Labor Relations, (MHRM) |
| Rutgers, Grad. Sch. of Education, (M.Ed.) | Rutgers, Sch. of Mgmt. & Labor Relations, MLER (Master's in Labor & Employment Relations) |
Additionally, you may:
 |
 |
Find us...Follow us! |
|
Still Have Questions? Ask the Director.
For questions or comments about this site, contact cswebpg@rci.rutgers.edu.
© 2008 Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. All rights reserved.
Last Updated: 05/10/2009