Their hard work, technical skills, and dedication are critical to maintaining the infrastructure and services that we all depend on. EasySource stands ready to support employers in hiring and retaining these invaluable workers, ensuring a strong and capable workforce for the future. Blue-collar workers remain indispensable, driving innovation and maintaining the infrastructure that supports our economy. Their contributions are evident in the buildings we work in, the roads we travel on, and the essential services we rely on daily. These workers not only build and maintain our physical world but also ensure the continued operation of critical systems and services.
The origins of white collar vs. blue collar
Compared with most West European countries, the United States has low union rates. In 2004 the percentage of workers covered by collective bargaining agreements was 68 percent in Germany, 33 percent in the United Kingdom, 93 percent in France, and only 14 percent in the United States. However, some strong U.S. unions remain in transportation, utilities, and construction jobs. In contrast, the growing service sector has few unions, and attempts to unionize those workers are generally unsuccessful. Some cite unions as a potential source of gains for low-paid workers, whereas others believe that unions cause unfair restraints for businesses.
What is a blue collar worker?
Understanding the essence of blue-collar work involves appreciating the hands-on skills, practical applications, and the tangible accomplishments that come with these jobs. Navy and light blue colors conceal potential dirt or grease on the worker’s clothing, helping them to appear cleaner. For the same reason, blue is a popular color for boilersuits which protect workers’ clothing.
Where did the term white-collar worker come from?
- Some of these students, staff, and faculty refer to themselves as blue-collar scholars.
- However, some strong U.S. unions remain in transportation, utilities, and construction jobs.
- One of the commonly cited reasons for this is the lack of increases in the minimum wage over that period.
- Other similar classifications include white collar, pink collar, black collar and more.
The concept of a blue-collar workforce emerged during the Industrial Revolution. As factories expanded and the demand for manual labor increased, a growing number of workers began to wear overalls and other functional clothing in their workplaces. The terms “white-collar jobs” and “blue-collar jobs” pop up in discussions about work, the economy, education and class. But why are jobs sorted like loads of laundry by collar colors, especially in a world where a lot of people where t-shirts and hoodies to work, no matter what they do?
Explore the definitions, myths & challenges of blue-collar work versus white-collar professions, plus how to manage a blue-collar workforce effectively. New Team Engine features that improve hiring efficiency include applicant star rankings, custom rejection reasons, a “send now” option for automations & more. Watch a short video to learn more about how Team Engine can help you recruit, retain, engage and improve your field workforce.
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He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do’s and don’ts for all who share the same passion! The common term was first coined in the 1920s when the “blue-collar” employees of the time wore, as the name implies, blue clothing. This linguistic development followed on the heels of more than a century of changes in the nature of work and clothing.
According to some reports, it’s currently challenging for employers to find workers for blue collar jobs. In contrast, the white-collar worker typically performs work in an office environment and may involve sitting at a computer or desk. A third type of work is a service worker (pink collar) whose labor is related to customer interaction, entertainment, sales or other service-oriented work.
Since most blue-collar jobs pay by the hour, working overtime could mean that a blue-collar worker can earn six figures in a year. In short, in the 21st century, the color of your collar doesn’t necessarily dictate the level of your income. Many of those in blue-collar or skilled trade occupations perform physical labor. Coal miners, masons, bricklayers, where did the term blue collar come from boilermakers, and welders all wore darker colors that didn’t readily show dirt. Factory workers, machinists, and assemblers play key roles in producing a wide range of products, from consumer electronics to automobiles. Their technical skills and attention to detail ensure that manufacturing processes are efficient and products meet quality standards.
Blue-collar is a term that describes a worker “whose duties call for the wearing of work clothes or protective clothing” due to the manual and physically-demanding nature of their work. The platform provides robust tools for screening and matching candidates based on their skills, experience, and qualifications. Employers can set specific criteria to filter applicants, ensuring a precise match for blue-collar roles.
In the 19th century, working-class men often owned very few shirts that had no collars on them. (See Lewis Hine’s photograph of Russian steel workers.) Etymologist Barry Popik found that the term “blue collar” started to appear regularly in print in the mid-1920s as a contrast to white-collar occupations. It appeared in the Merriam-Webster dictionary in 1946 and in the Oxford English Dictionary in 1950, attributed to American origins. Blue collar workers were often working outside or on job sites, doing manual or technical labor, and were paid hourly or by the piece.
You need to upgrade yourself through skill-building techniques to handle new kinds of job roles in the industry. In the post-war years, many American families experienced a rise in income and living standards, which led to the growth of the middle class. This growth was facilitated in part by the government’s policies promoting home ownership, which led to the development of suburban communities outside of major cities. These communities created new opportunities for workers in the construction industry, as well as for those who worked in service industries that catered to suburban residents. However, the history of blue-collar jobs is also one of upheaval and transformation, as economic and social changes have reshaped the landscape of American labor.