It isn’t uncommon for white-collar workers to sit at desks and use computers. With the advancement in technology, remote work from home or another location has also become very common for many white-collar workers. White collar is the most common term that is contrasted with blue collar, especially when it comes to employment. Some of the main differences between blue collar and white collar include where each works, their educational background and skills, as well as their roles and how they’re paid. Blue collar worker was a term that started being used around 1924 and has lived on ever since.
- This includes how we view various industries, the extent to which individuals are educated, their appearances, and social classes.
- People working in a proper office setting usually wear a suit and tie with a white-collared shirt underneath.
- Before I explain the story behind the blue and white-collar jobs, I will outline the meanings of each of these terms.
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- The blue work shirt has become something of a rarity on the job, more often being part of a uniform for sometimes public-facing workers like delivery drivers and mechanics.
- The white-collar worker wears a suit and white shirt to work, their white-collar peeking out below a blazer.
White-collar jobs tend to be higher-paid, and offer an annual salary based on overall performance in the position. White-collar workers are required to work a minimum number of hours to be paid. White collar jobs commonly take place in office https://personal-accounting.org/ settings, involving desk work, meetings, and interactions with colleagues and clients. Blue collar jobs usually involve working outdoors or in physically demanding environments, with tasks that require manual labor or machinery operation.
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On the other hand, people working in the manufacturing industry, especially in factories, are paid based on the number of units they manufacture per day. By the 1940s, it was common for Americans to juxtapose blue-collar and white-collar jobs. In 1945, when the United States was still at war with Japan, Rear Admiral F. G. Crisp testified before Congress about the U.S.
In addition, the term does have a little symbolism with what they wear. People working in a proper office setting usually wear a suit and tie with a white-collared shirt underneath. Many companies were quick to notice the new “fashion trend” among their workers.
Understanding Blue Collar
In fact, the term has evolved over time, and it’s now very common to find blue-collar workers who are formally educated, skilled, and highly paid. While blue collar and white collar are the two most popular, there are many other jobs based on collar colors. A blue collar vs white collar few more colors include pink collar, gold collar, grey collar, black collar, and more. This name stemmed from the fact professionals were “suit-and-tie workers”. These workers wore white shirts, usually with collars, and dressy slacks or skirts to the office.
Who are Blue Collar Workers?
They must pass a background check and a general teacher certification or licensure exam. OneDegree Careers is a platform created to help career seekers explore and choose a high-paying skilled career that doesn’t require college debt. We’re far past “Mad Men”-style suits and into a “The Social Network” phase of workplace attire. Jobs that used to be considered blue collar, like factory work, are cleaner and more technical than they used to be.
Since then, the use of the term has become so widespread that, today, there are over 2 billion search results for it online. Gray-collar jobs are the fastest-growing occupations, according to data by the United States of Bureau of Labor Statistics. On its list of the “highest projected percent change of employment” between 2022 to 2032, gray-collar roles dominate. In the past couple of decades, the line between white-collar and blue-collar work has started to smudge. A blue-collar job refers to some sort of manual or trade-related labor that requires physical exertion, rather than mental attention. Some examples of white-collar jobs include tech, accounting, marketing, and consulting.
Whether in the warehouse or factory, on an oil rig or in a coal mine, workers are likely wearing high-visibility fluorescent and sometimes reflective shirts and jackets. The blue work shirt has become something of a rarity on the job, more often being part of a uniform for sometimes public-facing workers like delivery drivers and mechanics. Before I explain the story behind the blue and white-collar jobs, I will outline the meanings of each of these terms. White-collar workers are generally engaged in tasks that require intellectual and analytical skills, such as data analysis, research, decision-making, and managing projects or teams. They often possess higher education qualifications and work in corporate environments. On the other hand, blue-collar jobs are often wage-based, meaning that the workers are compensated based on the work done in a certain number of hours or shifts per week.
Other classifications
For example, pink collar workers are those in professions that used to be popular among women (e.g. nurses). The term “white collar,” also synonymous with the “laptop class,” refers to professionals who work in an office and earn an annual salary. Employers looking to hire these workers often require a bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent experience working within that sector. Because white-collar jobs have a higher barrier to entry, in terms of education, and earn an annual salary rather than an hourly wage, these roles are often perceived as more prestigious and desirable. However, both categories of workers are integral to the functioning of society and prop up the nation’s economy.
Classifying workers by the color of their shirts dates back to the early 1920s. This categorization system was based on the color or type of clothing people wore in their jobs. Blue collar is just one of the many categories of workers that are classified based on the color of clothing they wear.
They might also require highly specialized skills and expertise for the usage of specific software or tools. They typically involve information-based work, meaning that the employees are usually working in an office at a desk or on a computer. The terms white collar vs. blue collar are traditional shorthand meant to describe differences in work setting, job responsibility, and salary of different workers. However, in the current world economy, the distinctions between white collar vs. blue collar are blurring.
Blue collar workers are engaged in manual labor, often requiring physical skill and exertion. These jobs are in manufacturing, construction, mining, maintenance, and agriculture. The term “blue collar” originated from the traditional blue uniforms or sturdy work clothes that these workers often wear, designed to be durable and conceal dirt.
Work Time and Flexibility
In many instances, blue-collar jobs offer an hourly wage and are assigned a certain number of hours or shifts per week. Blue-collar workers tend to receive fewer benefits from employers, and a decrease in hours or shifts can result in financial insecurity. However, both professional categories can earn high wages based on experience, skills, and position. In modern society, the connotation of a blue-collar worker belonging to a lower socio-economic class is, therefore, outdated. As you can see, the opposition blue collar vs. white collar began in a time when the social class divide was at its peak.