Direct Labor Variances The following data relate to labor cost for production of 5,900 cellular telephones: Actual: 3,970 hrs. at $13.40 Standard: 3,910 hrs. at $13.70 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 workers who were paid less than more-experienced workers or poorly trained, thereby resulting in a labor rate than planned. The lower level of experience or training may have resulted in efficient performance. Thus, the actual time required was than standard.