Blue collar is a classification of working people by the types of jobs they perform. It typically refers to those in hands-on jobs that involve manual labor. Some of the industries that rely on blue-collar workers are where did the term blue collar come from manufacturing, mining, construction, and automaking.
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- It now encompasses workers in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and other industries that require physical exertion and technical skills.
- Explore the definitions, myths & challenges of blue-collar work versus white-collar professions, plus how to manage a blue-collar workforce effectively.
- But blue-collar jobs usually include manual or trade-related labor, and workers often wear dark clothing or blue jeans.
- In the 19th century, working-class men often owned very few shirts that had no collars on them.
- Although blue-collar work still entails some manual labor, advancements in technology have required highly-skilled blue-collar workers in industries such as aeronautics, film-making, electronics, and energy.
Coal miners, masons, bricklayers, boilermakers, and welders all wore darker colors that didn’t readily show dirt. They may wear overalls, chambray shirts, or jeans, all in the color blue. The term blue collar is used to describe workers who perform manual labor, work at factory jobs, or do any other type of labor that does not involve working in an office.
Many strivers attempted to make a similar transformation on their own, and proper attire was important. The detachable white collar first became widely available in the 1830s, allowing clerks and shopkeepers — who still had to do manual work from time to time — the ability to have a clean, freshly starched collar at all times. This collared divide of occupations was quite recent, emerging in the 1930s. This linguistic development followed on the heels of more than a century of changes in the nature of work and clothing. The collared divide of occupations emerged in the 1930s, following more than a century of changes in the nature of work and clothing.
Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction. To keep pace with the changing nature of work today, ADP designs global payroll solutions that simplify, localise and unify your payroll needs. While many misconceptions that surround blue-collar work were based partially in truth many years ago, the story today is quite different.
Blue-collar worker
Since many blue-collar jobs consist of mainly manual labor, educational requirements for workers are typically lower than those of white-collar workers. Often, not even a high school diploma is required, and many of the skills required for blue-collar jobs are learned by the employee while working. Some of these students, staff, and faculty refer to themselves as blue-collar scholars. Blue collar and white collar jobs have historically been differentiated based on the nature of the work, the work environment, and the educational prerequisites. Blue collar workers generally perform manual labor and are either paid by the hour or on a piecework basis. Navy and light blue colors conceal potential dirt or grease on the worker’s clothing, helping them to appear cleaner.
There are a wide range of payscales for such work depending upon field of specialty and experience. Their jobs generally require a college degree, specialized skills, and software skills. Over time, the term “blue collar” has evolved to include a wider range of occupations beyond traditional manual labor. It now encompasses workers in the construction, manufacturing, transportation, and other industries that require physical exertion and technical skills. 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.
If you liked our blue collar worker definition, check out the rest of our HR terms. Now, some people might say the term “blue-collar” is considered offensive. The term simply refers to a type of job and is not meant to be derogatory. But, like anything these days, if you say it with negative intent or obvious slander, then yes, it would be considered offensive. Perhaps somewhere right now there is a college student wearing a parent’s fluorescent vest to a campus rally and majoring in computer science in hopes that they will someday be able to wear T-shirts in their office. By the 1890s, the number of clerical positions in industrialized societies had exploded.
Education and Skills
Some blue-collar jobs also pay by the project or follow a salary scheme. In short, in the 21st century, the color of your collar doesn’t necessarily dictate the level of your income. They may not require a four-year college degree, but many blue-collar jobs require highly skilled personnel with specialized training and a license or certificate from an apprenticeship program or trade school.
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. Blue collar workers were often working outside or on job sites, doing manual or technical labor, and were paid hourly or by the piece.
In December 1963, Cheri Register came home to Minnesota from the University of Chicago for her first winter break. She felt the need to reinvent her look with a blue work shirt from Montgomery Ward to fit in with campus radicals and express her solidarity with the workers of the world. When she told her father, who worked at a meatpacking plant, about her plan, he said that he could just bring her one from work. If you’re reading this, you’ve already taken the first step to improving your blue-collar workforce’s job satisfaction. Take the next steps to connect more deeply with your teams through personalized communication, recognition for work well done, and timely feedback.
What is the term associated with a skilled worker?
By the mid-1920s, collared work shirts were being mass produced cheaply enough to include pockets, collars, and cuffs, and industrial workers by that time could often afford to buy more than one. The 1926 Montgomery Ward mail-order catalog featured the “Guaranteed Work Shirt,” described as a “big tough shirt of firm heavy chambray.” It came in two colors. Blue-collar workers were perceived as being “lower class” than white-collar workers. This is despite the fact that many of these jobs, whether they were in management or trades, paid similar wages. Not all blue-collar occupations pay less than white-collar jobs, either.
Unique Challenges of Managing a Blue-Collar Workforce
The blue color of these garments became synonymous with the working class. Most white-collar jobs require at least an undergraduate college degree. Higher positions often require higher educational credentials, licenses, and special certifications. 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 the environment in which each works, their educational background, their roles, and how they’re paid. Classifying workers by the color of their shirts dates back to the early 1920s.
However, it’s essential to note that both blue collar and white collar roles are crucial for the functioning of the economy and society1. Also, based on a 2018 Washington Post article, about 13.9 percent of workers are in blue collar professions. It’s a home office, but technically, it would be considered a white-collar position. The terms are becoming outdated for a lot of reasons, first among them being their false class connotations. And there’s the fact that a lot of jobs don’t require shirts with collars at all anymore. Blue collar is just one of the classifications of people in the workforce.
