Origin and Meaning of the Term “Blue-collar worker”
– Coined in 1924 in an Alden, Iowa newspaper
– Derived from the image of manual workers wearing blue denim or chambray shirts
– Blue collar workers often wear durable canvas or cotton clothing
– Blue color conceals dirt or grease on clothing, making workers appear cleaner
– Blue collar/white collar color scheme has socio-economic class connotations
Educational Requirements for Blue-collar Jobs
– Blue-collar jobs typically require lower educational qualifications compared to white-collar jobs
– Many blue-collar jobs do not require a high school diploma
– Skills for blue-collar jobs are often learned on the job
– Higher level blue-collar jobs, such as electricians or plumbers, require vocational training or apprenticeships
– State-certification is necessary for certain blue-collar professions
Shift of Blue-collar Jobs to Developing Nations
– Western nations have shifted towards service and white-collar economies
– Manufacturing jobs have been offshored to developing nations with lower wages
– Offshoring has led to industrialization in developing nations and decreased blue-collar jobs in developed countries
– Rust Belt in the US has experienced a decline in manufacturing jobs and subsequent economic challenges
– Cities in the Rust Belt have seen a decline in blue-collar workforce, population, and urban blight
Blue-collar as an Adjective
– Blue-collar can be used as an adjective to describe the environment of blue-collar workers
– It can describe a setting reflective of the blue-collar environment, such as a neighborhood, restaurant, or bar
References
– Wickman, Forrest. ‘Working Mans Blues: Why do we call manual laborers blue collar?’ Slate.com, 1 May 2012.
– Lynch, Annette and Mitchell D. Strauss, eds. (2014), Ethnic Dress in the United States: A Cultural Encyclopedia, s.v. Chambray, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; UK ed., p. 68. ISBN 978-0759121485.
– ‘What Is a Blue-Collar Worker and a White-Collar Worker?’ Retrieved 16 March 2018.
– U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Division of Information Services. ‘Glossary.’ Retrieved 5 May 2009.
– Blue Collar can also describe the environment. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 15 August 2006. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue-collar_worker
A blue-collar worker is a working class person who performs manual labor or skilled trades. Blue-collar work may involve skilled or unskilled labor. The type of work may involve manufacturing, warehousing, mining, excavation, carpentry, electricity generation and power plant operations, electrical construction and maintenance, custodial work, farming, commercial fishing, logging, landscaping, pest control, food processing, oil field work, waste collection and disposal, recycling, construction, maintenance, shipping, driving, trucking, and many other types of physical work. Blue-collar work often involves something being physically built or maintained.
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. Many occupations blend blue, white, or pink-collar work and are often paid hourly wage-labor, although some professionals may be paid by the project or salaried. There are a wide range of payscales for such work depending upon field of specialty and experience.
