Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations

What Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations does

Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations (LER) is a public academic unit within the College of the Liberal Arts at The Pennsylvania State University, headquartered at 506 Keller Building on the University Park campus. Established in 1942 as one of the first university-based labor education programs in the United States following the National Labor Relations Act, the school delivers undergraduate and graduate degrees (Labor and Employment Relations, Human Resources and Employment Relations, an MPS in Labor and Global Workers' Rights, and a doctorate), plus certificates and integrated undergraduate-graduate pathways. Its programmatic footprint is organized around four centers: the Center for Global Workers Rights (CGWR), the Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS), The Labor School (Pennsylvania labor-movement outreach), and the Center for Workplace Performance (CWP), supplemented by the Healthcare Labor-Management Partnership Initiative (HPI).

Core offerings combine academic degrees with non-degree workforce programs. The Labor School runs the Labor Activist Academy, Staff Training for Strong Unions, Leadership for a Renewed Labor Movement, and an AI Learning Collaborative aimed at union leaders. CWP delivers online courses (Managing People series, Collaborative Coaching executive program) and the SHRM-CP Certification Prep Course, and sells an Arbitration DVD produced with the National Academy of Arbitrators. CIHRS hosts the Global Conference on International Human Resource Management, an IHRM webinar series, and academic journal partnerships; CGWR maintains a Labor Rights Indicators Database and research outputs. HPI provides education and consultation to healthcare systems on labor-management partnerships, anchored by case-study work with Kaiser Permanente.

Revenue mechanics are a mix of academic tuition (via Penn State admissions), low-cost professional services for Pennsylvania labor organizations (state rates of $600/half-day or $1,200/full-day per instructor, plus $150/hour for additional consultation), conference fees (e.g., $100/person for the AI conference), product sales through the LER Shop (SHRM-CP prep $850-$900; Arbitration DVD $99-$500), and multi-day residential programs ($2,200/person for Staff Training for Strong Unions, November 2026). Go-to-market is event-driven and relationship-led, leveraging Penn State's digital channels, direct outreach to labor councils, AFL-CIO co-sponsorship, and an Advisory Board of labor leaders; customer segments span students, Pennsylvania unions, healthcare organizations, and HR professionals seeking certification.

Name

Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations

Legal name

The Pennsylvania State University

Website

https://ler.la.psu.edu

Company type

Public

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations is a public academic unit offering degrees and workforce training in labor relations, HR, and global workers' rights, serving students, Pennsylvania labor unions, healthcare systems, and HR professionals through four specialized centers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Labor and Employment Relations

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Labor Relations & Union Management Training (EDABAIAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Workforce Development & Continuing Education Divisions (Noncredit) (EDAHADAG), HR Compliance, Employment Law & Employee Relations Training (EDABAIAE)

Keywords

• Labor education programs
• Human resources training
• Union leadership development
• Employment relations degrees
• Workplace performance coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

University Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Union Training Programs: Low-cost education and training programs for Pennsylvania labor organizations. Customized trainings for local unions and labor councils at state rates of $600 per half day or $1,200 per full day instructor rate, plus $150/hour for additional consultation.
2. Academic Tuition: Revenue from undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Labor and Employment Relations, Human Resources, and related fields through Penn State.
3. Professional Development Products: SHRM-CP Certification Prep Course ($850-$900), Arbitration DVD ($99-$500), and other professional development products sold through the LER Shop.
4. Conference Fees: Program fees for conferences such as the AI Conference at $100 per person including program, lunch, and breaks.
5. Staff Training Programs: Staff Training for Strong Unions at $2,200 per person including program cost, three nights lodging, lunches, and breakfasts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Penn State's School of Labor and Employment Relations is an academic unit that delivers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in Labor and Employment Relations, Human Resources and Employment Relations, Organizational Leadership, and Labor and Global Workers' Rights. It also operates The Labor School, providing low-cost non-degree training, executive leadership programs, and an AI Learning Collaborative for union leaders, plus the Center for Workplace Performance offering SHRM-CP certification prep, workshops, and executive coaching.

Product overview

Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations is an academic institution offering educational programs for labor unions and HR professionals. The portfolio consists of The Labor School (labor movement education including AI Learning Collaborative, Labor Activist Academy, Staff Training for Strong Unions, and Leadership for a Renewed Labor Movement), the Center for Workplace Performance (professional development for HRER professionals with Managing People courses and Collaborative Coaching), the Center for Global Workers Rights (global workers' rights research), and the Center for International Human Resource Studies (IHRM conferences and research). Additional offerings include the Arbitration DVD for teaching purposes, SHRM-CP Certification Prep Course, and Healthcare Labor-Management Partnership Initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Center for Global Workers Rights: Research center focused on global workers' rights issues
• Center for International Human Resource Studies
• The Labor School
• Center for Workplace Performance

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programs in Labor and Employment Relations Undergraduate majors, minors, honors program, and integrated undergraduate-graduate degrees in Labor and Employment Relations, Human Resources and Employment Relations, and Organizational Leadership offered through Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts.
• Graduate Degree Programs (HRER, MPS, Doctorate) Master's degrees in Human Resources and Employment Relations, MPS in Labor and Global Workers' Rights, doctorate degrees, integrated undergraduate-graduate degrees, and HR certificates offered through Penn State's graduate school.
• The Labor School Penn State's outreach program to the Pennsylvania labor movement providing low-cost education and training programs for workers and their organizations throughout the state, including customized training for local unions and labor councils.
• Labor Activist Academy A series of non-credit courses designed to equip labor activists, stewards, and leaders to meet the challenges facing today's labor movement, offered through partnerships with local labor councils across Pennsylvania.
• Staff Training for Strong Unions A program for newer union staff providing foundational understanding of labor history and practical skills for having tough conversations, managing time effectively, and supporting worksite leaders. Priced at $2,200 per person including program cost, three nights lodging, lunches, and breakfasts.
• Leadership for a Renewed Labor Movement An executive leadership program focusing on movement building and increasing capacity for leading change through three intensive retreats.
• AI Learning Collaborative for Healthcare Unions A network of healthcare union leaders and union activists learning about artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare through webinars, resources, and model collective bargaining language on AI.
• Center for Workplace Performance (CWP) Provides HRER professionals with professional development opportunities including workshops, webinars, and executive coaching to enhance knowledge and skills for strategic decision-making.
• Managing People Course Series An online course series combining Leadership, Helping People Work Better, and Counseling and Discipline into a comprehensive opportunity for managers and supervisors, taught online through the Center for Workplace Performance.
• Collaborative Coaching Program An interactive, online executive coaching program for leaders that is personally driven, positively framed, and paced appropriately.
• Healthcare Labor-Management Partnership Initiative (HPI) An initiative committed to encouraging the implementation of new labor-management partnerships in healthcare organizations and working with existing partnerships to help them reach their full potential, providing educational programs, research, and consultation.
• Center for Global Workers Rights (CGWR) Research center focused on global workers' rights, offering the MPS in Labor and Global Workers' Rights degree and the Labor Rights Indicators Database.
• Center for International Human Resource Studies (CIHRS) Center focused on international HRM research and practice, hosting global conferences, webinars, and speaker series such as the IHRM Webinar Series and the Global Conference on IHRM.
• SHRM-CP Certification Prep Course A certification preparation course for the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) exam, priced at $850-$900 (non-refundable) and offered through the LER Shop.
• Arbitration DVD An instructional film 'Labor Arbitration – The Suspension of Nurse Kevin' produced in conjunction with the National Academy of Arbitrators for teaching arbitration processes, priced at $99 (nonprofit/educational) and $500 (perpetual license).
• AI Conference (What Union Leaders Need to Know about AI) An annual conference equipping union leaders with knowledge on AI introduction in workplaces, priced at $100 per person including program, lunch, and breaks; held at Penn State University Park.

Quantifiable outcome

• Trained union leaders from twelve international unions plus national and state AFL-CIO at single conference

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and major.

• United Association for Labor Education (UALE)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 July 2026Penn State faculty regularly teach in the UALE Northeast Summer School for Women in Unions and Worker Organizations, offered every summer at different regional locations. One of four residential programs sponsored by UALE.
• Pennsylvania AFL-CIOcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 May 2026Co-sponsor of the conference What Union Leaders Need to Know about Artificial Intelligence. The conference connected union leaders with key university and union staff and was one of the first conferences in the nation designed to equip local union leaders to deal with AI introduction in workplaces.
• Centre for Global Human Resource Management (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 June 2024Co-hosted the 6th Global Conference on IHRM in June 2024 at University of Gothenburg in Sweden, examining how organizations navigate global issues including AI and automation, diversity and social justice, and global leadership.
• SEIU Healthcare PennsylvaniacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2021Zach Zobrist serves as Director of Workforce Development for SEIU Healthcare PA while maintaining affiliation with Penn State's HPI. SEIU Healthcare PA represents over 40,000 healthcare workers and partners on workforce development and labor-management partnerships.
• Human Resource Management JournalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 May 2019Academic journal sponsor for the 4th Global Conference on IHRM at Penn State, supporting the scholarly exchange in international human resource management.
• St. John's UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 May 2017Co-sponsored multiple Global Conferences on IHRM with St. John's University at their Manhattan campus, bringing together researchers and practitioners in international human resource management.
• Simon Fraser University, ESCP Business SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2013Organized the IHRM Webinar Series in 2020 with colleagues from Simon Fraser University (Canada) and ESCP Business School (Germany, France), showcasing distinguished scholars from around the world.
• Kaiser PermanentemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Case study partner in healthcare labor-management partnership research. Kaiser Permanente represents the nation's largest healthcare labor-management partnership and their model is cited in HPI educational materials.
• National Academy of ArbitratorsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProduced the instructional film 'Labor Arbitration – The Suspension of Nurse Kevin' in conjunction with the National Academy of Arbitrators for teaching arbitration concepts.
• International Journal of Human Resource ManagementminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading HRM academic journal sponsor for multiple Global Conferences on IHRM, supporting academic research exchange.
• Philadelphia Council AFL-CIOmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLabor Activist Academy partner providing training to labor activists and leaders in the Philadelphia region. Testimonials from AFGE Local 940 and Community College of Philadelphia cite collaborative learning experiences.
• Labor Councils Across PennsylvaniamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Labor School partners with local labor councils around the commonwealth to deliver the Labor Activist Academy and other training programs, bringing together diverse perspectives from union leaders.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CUNY Murphy Institute for Worker Education and Labor Studies: The Murphy Institute delivers labor-focused degrees and training for union members and activists in New York City, comparable to Penn State's Labor Activist Academy. It is a regional peer with stronger urban labor density.
• University of Massachusetts Boston Labor Studies Program: UMass Boston's Labor Studies program offers degrees and applied research focused on the labor movement, with growing union training capacity in the Northeast. It overlaps with Penn State's Labor School mission but with a smaller academic footprint.
• University of Wisconsin-Madison School for Workers: The UW-Madison School for Workers is one of the oldest labor education programs in the US and provides union training and worker-centered education. It is a comparable academic unit focused on labor education, though smaller in scale than Penn State's LER.
• AFL-CIO Labor Institute: The AFL-CIO Labor Institute offers training for union leaders and staff nationwide, overlapping with Penn State's Labor School curriculum on collective bargaining, organizing, and steward training. It is a broad-incumbent-style peer on the union training side.

Regional players

• UCLA Labor Center: UCLA Labor Center provides labor education, applied research, and partnerships with California unions. It is comparable in mission to Penn State's Labor School and CGWR but is a regional peer serving the West Coast labor market rather than directly competing in Pennsylvania.

Direct peers

• Michigan State University School of Human Resources & Labor Relations: MSU's school offers degrees and labor/HR programming similar in scope to Penn State's LER, including union studies and HR professional development. Both schools serve Midwest/Northeast labor markets and compete for SHRM-aligned students and grants.
• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign School of Labor & Employment Relations: UIUC's School of Labor & Employment Relations is a near-identical academic unit (same name) offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs in labor relations and HR, representing a direct peer for students, faculty, and labor training buyers.
• Cornell University ILR School: Cornell ILR is the most prominent US labor school and direct peer. Both institutions offer HR/labor degrees, executive education, and union-facing training; Cornell's broader scale and brand set the competitive benchmark Penn State must match for faculty and grants.
• Rutgers University School of Management and Labor Relations: Rutgers SMLR is a leading labor and HR school in the Northeast offering undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education for HR professionals and union leaders, directly competing for students and corporate training contracts in Penn State's region.

Others

• United Association for Labor Education (UALE): UALE is a national professional association for labor educators and runs residential programs (e.g., Northeast Summer School for Women in Unions) in which Penn State faculty participate. It is a peer/ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennstate-ler
• Instagraminstagram.com/pennstateler

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Penn State School of Labor and Employment Relations