What does ‘blue collar’ mean?

blue collar jobs definition

It is used to distinguish between white-collar clerical and administrative work. Of or relating to wage-earning workers who wear work clothes or other specialized clothing on the job, as mechanics, longshoremen, and miners. Many people believe that if you work in the blue-collar industry, you make less than white-collar workers. In fact, many different blue-collar professions make as much as—or even more than—financial advisors, scientists, and veterinarians.

What is blue collar versus white collar?

Blue-collar jobs include farmers, mechanics, power plant operators, and electricians. White-collar jobs, on the other hand, typically work in office settings in clerical, administrative, and management roles.

Blue-collar jobs have been vital drivers of the American economy, providing necessary services and products. Blue-collar workers are often seen as the backbone of America’s workforce; their labor keeps businesses running and households functioning. Pink collar jobsinclude retail positions, elementary school teachers, and jobs in service fields like waitstaff or secretaries. Rather than a reference to the color of clothing these workers wear, pink is meant to represent the women who traditionally fill these roles.

Specialization- The benefits of hiring blue-collar workers

There is an idea that blue-collar workers aren’t as educated as those who work white-collar jobs. That’s because office work typically requires post-secondary education. For instance, a company looking for people for accountants generally requires new hires to have an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance. A blue-collar worker is a working class person who performs manual labor. Blue-collar work often involves something being physically built or maintained. Many unions filled their ranks with blue-collar workers, who generally made less money, were paid by the hour and toiled in jobs with little future.

  • Blue-collar workers may only require certain skills that can be obtained either on the job or by going to trade school.
  • White collar is the most common term that is contrasted with blue collar, especially when it comes to employment.
  • It doesn’t matter who earns more or who has the better job, all the different kinds of collars are equally as important and deserve the same respect!
  • Typically there are fewer opportunities for professional development or new job skills within a particular field.

To succeed in landscaping, you must have a keen eye for detail, robust physical health, and endurance. You will be responsible for satisfying the customer’s requirements, whether they be decorative or functional. It includes the application of fertilizers blue collar jobs definition and pesticides, as well as ensuring the plant’s growth and other related tasks. The average salary in the forestry industry ranges from $40,000 to $62,000. Only 0.31% of the population in the United States is employed in some kind of carpentry position.

Key Differences

And not all blue-collar occupations pay less than white-collar jobs, either. Workers in some trade fields earn more annually than their salaried counterparts. Nuclear technicians, elevator installers, and subway operators earn over $70,000 per year, which is higher than what the average college graduate earns after graduation. Unlike blue-collar employees, white-collar workers are considered highly educated and highly skilled.

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