Direct Labor Variances The following data relate to labor cost for production of 4,600 cellular telephones: Actual: 3,140 hrs. at $15.80 Standard: 3,090 hrs. at $16.00 a. Determine the direct labor rate variance, direct labor time variance, and total direct labor cost variance. Enter a favorable variance as a negative number using a minus sign and an unfavorable variance as a positive number. Rate variance Time variance Total direct labor cost variance b. The employees may have been less-experienced or poorly trained, thereby resulting in a efficient performance. Thus, the actual time required was labor rate than planned. The lower level of experience or training may have resulted in than standard.