Direct Labor Variances The following data relate to labor cost for production of 4,500 cellular telephones: Actual: 3,070 hrs. at $12.50 Standard: 3,020 hrs. at $12.80 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 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.