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Studies & Degrees in Industrial Relations

Industrial relations is the study of the relationship between employers, employees and their representatives, and of the rules that govern work. It is also called labour relations, employment relations or, in North America, labor and industrial relations. At its centre is collective bargaining. The International Labour Organization (ILO) describes collective bargaining as a key means through which employers, their organisations and trade unions establish fair wages and working conditions. Typical issues on the bargaining agenda are wages, working time, training, occupational health and safety and equal treatment.

The subject is interdisciplinary. The Master of Arts in Employment and Labor Relations at Wayne State University draws on anthropology, economics, history, law, management, political science and sociology. Its core courses cover the economics of work, employment relations law, the management of human resources and workplace negotiations. Students learn labour law, how collective agreements are negotiated and applied, how grievances and disputes are handled, and how pay and employment are shaped by the labour market.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degrees. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), labor relations specialists typically need a bachelor's degree in labor and industrial relations, human resources, business or a related field. Some universities teach the subject as a programme within an arts degree, combining economics, labour-management relations and sociology.
  • Master's degrees and graduate diplomas. The Wayne State master's degree requires at least 36 credits of graduate course work and admits holders of a bachelor's degree; the GRE or GMAT test is optional. The School of Labor and Industrial Relations of the University of the Philippines Diliman offers a Diploma in Industrial Relations, on site and online, and a Master of Industrial Relations.
  • Spain. The usual route is the bachelor's degree (grado) in Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos. Official bachelor's degrees have 240 ECTS credits and official master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Murcia, for example, this degree lasts four years, has 240 ECTS credits and is taught in Spanish. It prepares for the professional profile of the graduado social and also covers human resources management, labour market mediation and occupational risk prevention.
  • Certificates. The BLS notes that some colleges and universities offer labor relations certificates in specialised topics such as mediation.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 10 active schools for industrial relations. Four are in the United States: Wayne State University in Detroit, West Virginia University, the University of Minnesota and the University of Bridgeport. Two are in Canada: McGill University and Saint Mary's University in Halifax. Spain, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the Philippines have one each: the Universitat de Barcelona, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School in Dublin, the University of Kent and the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Programmes change, so check the current offer on each school's own site. McGill University, for example, retired its 54-credit Industrial and Labour Relations programme in September 2023 and no longer accepts new students for it. Many universities now teach the subject inside a human resources or management degree.

Most programmes outside Spain are taught in English; Spanish degrees in Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos are taught mainly in Spanish. Labour law is national law, so a degree is closely tied to the country where it is taken. Ask the school how the qualification is recognised if you plan to work in another country.

Application dates differ by school. For the second semester of the 2026-27 academic year, the School of Labor and Industrial Relations at UP Diliman sets an application deadline of 31 October 2026, and classes start on 15 January 2027.

Careers

Graduates work for companies, trade unions, employers' organisations, public administrations and law or consulting firms. Wayne State University states that its master's degree prepares students for positions in government, business and union organisations, and for self-employed work such as labor arbitration.

The BLS describes the work of labor relations specialists as resolving employee-management disputes, negotiating labor contracts and coordinating grievance procedures. In the United States this occupation had 66,300 jobs in 2025. The BLS projects employment to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035, slower than the average for all occupations, with about 4,800 openings each year, most of them to replace workers who leave the occupation. These figures apply to the United States only.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between industrial relations and human resources?

Industrial relations focuses on the collective side of work: trade unions, collective bargaining, labour law and disputes. Human resources focuses on managing people inside one organisation. Many degrees combine both, such as the Spanish bachelor's degree in Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos.

How long does it take to study industrial relations?

It depends on the level and the country. A Spanish bachelor's degree has 240 ECTS credits and takes four years. The master's degree in Employment and Labor Relations at Wayne State University requires at least 36 graduate credits.

Do I need a specific bachelor's degree for a master's in industrial relations?

Usually not. Wayne State University, for example, admits holders of a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution and looks at grades, references and work experience. Check the admission rules of each school.

Can I study industrial relations in Spain?

Yes. The subject is taught in the bachelor's degree in Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos, offered by many Spanish universities, among them the Universidad de Murcia.