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Salary Range
€40k - €95k
Career Zone

In Brief...

Works on maintaining a good relationship between employers and their staff in the workplace.

Knowledge

  •   English Language Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
  •   Personnel and Human Resources Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
  •   Law and Government Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
  •   Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
  •   Customer and Personal Service Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Knowledge areas are ranked by their importance to this career

Skills

  •   Active Listening Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  •   Speaking Talking to others to convey information effectively.
  •   Negotiation Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.
  •   Reading Comprehension Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  •   Persuasion Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Skills are ranked by their importance to this career

Work Environment

This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):

 
Human Resources
Business Management & Human Resources

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Most commonly reported Work Activities

  •   Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
  •   Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  •   Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  •   Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  •   Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  •   Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
  •   Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
  •   Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  •   Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  •   Processing Information Compiling, coding, categorising, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

 

Working Life

Devising, researching and overseeing the implementation of strategies to maintain and improve membership density

Leading plans to engage and to animate members in relation to issues of concern to them

Developing initiatives to mediate employee & employer relations in a representative capacity in workplaces

Providing leadership, mentoring and guidance to the wider organising team and other colleagues

 

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

  • Negotiate collective bargaining agreements.
  • Monitor company or workforce adherence to labor agreements.
  • Present the position of the company or of labor during arbitration or other labor negotiations.
  • 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.
  • Draft contract proposals or counter-proposals for collective bargaining or other labor negotiations.
  • Call or meet with union, company, government, or other interested parties to discuss labor relations matters, such as contract negotiations or grievances.
  • Interpret contractual agreements for employers and employees engaged in collective bargaining or other labor relations processes.
  • Assess the impact of union proposals on company or government operations.
  • Investigate and evaluate union complaints or arguments to determine viability.
  • Recommend collective bargaining strategies, goals, or objectives.

Qualities - Industrial Relations Officer

To be an Employee Relations officer, you must have excellent communication skills.

You must have strong listening skills, and the ability to appreciate other people's points of view.

You need to be able to handle difficult situations sensitively, and gain the trust and respect of both parties.  
 
You will encounter challenging situations, so you must patient and able to stay calm under pressure. It is important to remain fair and objective when dealing with disputes, although you also need to be firm if someone's demands are seen as unreasonable.

Strong negotiating and mediating skills are essential. Industrial relations officers need tact and diplomacy, and must be approachable.  
 
You need a thorough, methodical and analytical approach to solving problems. You must be capable of leading discussions, and focusing on the key elements of a problem.  
 
A respect for confidentiality is essential, as you will be dealing with sensitive and confidential issues.

Interests - Industrial Relations Officer

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

 Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

 Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

 Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

Entry / Progression - Industrial Relations Officer

Persons who wish to become Employee Relations Officers may take a degree course in human resource management. In several of the bachelor of commerce and bachelor of business studies degree courses, human resource management is an option.

Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research. 

Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.

Example search terms include: business studies, HR management, admin, advanced.

Search for FET Courses

PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.

Example search terms include: business studies, HR management, admin, advanced.

Search for PLC Courses

Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate) 
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.

Example search terms include: business, human resource management, industrial relations, commerce with HR components.

Search for CAO Courses

Higher Education (Postgraduate)
Postgraduate courses are courses at Levels 9 and 10 on the NFQ and usually last 1 – 2 years full time, or longer if a PhD or part time. Entrants typically require an undergraduate award (Level 8).

Example search terms include: business, human resource management, human resource management, human resources.

Search for Postgraduate Courses

Professional Development 

Professional development (CPD) courses are specialised training, formal education, or advanced professional learning that improves skills, professional knowledge, competency, and overall effectiveness in the professional world.

IBEC CPD training IBEC Training & Industrial Relations

Skillnet Professional Networks CPD  

Workplace relations: facilitated training & mediation.

Check the Useful Contacts tab on this page to see if there are any professional bodies listed who may provide training related to this career.

Pay & Salary - Industrial Relations Officer

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €40k - €95k

Salaries vary by employer, location, duties, role, experience, and sessional shift pattern & conditions. 

Data Source(s):
Sigmar / CPL / Lincoln/ Morgan McKinley

Last Updated: July, 2024

Labour Market Updates - Industrial Relations Officer

Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Estimators; valuers and assessors; Importers and exporters; Financial and accounting technicians; Business and related associate professionals; n.e.c. Legal associate professionals.

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

The five-year annual average growth rate for this occupation was significantly above average, with strong growth observed between 2020 and 2021; employment grew by approximately 2,000 persons between 2021 and 2022. Employment was spread across all sectors of the economy, with the largest share, at just over a fifth, for professional activities. Employment permits, primarily in the ICT sector, spanned a number of roles, including data analysts, account strategists and logistics specialists.

While the number of online job adverts (OVATE) remained almost unchanged in 2022 for this occupational group, there was a 6% increase in adverts for financial and accounting technicians (although the numbers involved are small).

Employers (Skills for Growth & Spotlight on Skills) have signalled difficulties in recruiting data analysts. Furthermore, data analysis skills were required in other difficult-to-fill job roles such as engineers, software developers, and lab analysts. Demand for data analytics skills is evident; however, rather than existing only as standalone roles, these skills are increasingly embedded in other occupations.

Useful Contacts - Industrial Relations Officer

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