Direct Labor Variances The following data relate to labor cost for production of 3,300 cellular telephones: Actual: 2,230 hrs. at $15.70 Standard: 2,190 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 $fill in the blank 1 Time variance $fill in the blank 3 Total direct labor cost variance $fill in the blank 5 b. The employees may have been less-experienced workers who were paid less than more-experienced workers or poorly trained, thereby resulting in a lower labor rate than planned. The lower level of experience or training may have resulted in less efficient performance. Thus, the actual time required was more than standard.