White-collar workers are suit-and-tie workers who work at a desk and, stereotypically, eschew physical labor. White-collar work used to mean a high level of education and the assumption of securing a cushy job with perks. That distinction today is blurred by the fact that white-collar employment has become the dominant working class in the U.S. and other advanced nations.
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The term “white collar,” popularized by American novelist Upton Sinclair in the 1930s, refers to the crisp, button-down, white shirts that are worn by business professionals. And when some white-collar job markets become saturated, employees don’t make much more than their blue-collar counterparts. That’s because the competition for positions allows employers to offer lower salaries, or workers take jobs for which they are overqualified.
White-Collar: Definition, Types of Jobs, and Other “Collar” Types
White-collar professions, such as those in finance, law, engineering, and technology, often command competitive salaries due to the specialized skills and education required. 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. To be in the skilled trades, you may need to complete at least a high school education or equivalent. Although, a high school diploma is not required for blue-collar roles. There may be requirements for specialized training or certification.
Expectations of White-Collar Jobs
The pressure to meet targets, deliver results, and maintain productivity can lead to burnout, anxiety, and other mental health issues. White-collar workers are often expected to develop specialized skills over time, making them increasingly valuable intellectual assets for the growth of the company. For example, an accountant may have to keep abreast of all regulatory changes that could affect how their clients or company reports income.
Most of these jobs require a high school diploma and apprenticeships or on-the-job experience. The movement of a nation’s employment market toward the service industry and away from agricultural labor can signify growth, educational advancement, and technological innovation. Other common distinctions between the two include different educational preparation and social classes. These differences are often stereotypes and are not necessarily accurate. WeCruitr.io, a platform aimed at making the job search process more humane and effective by connecting job seekers with top recruiters and offering career coaching services.
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. For instance, white-collar jobs can be found in office settings in clerical, administrative, managerial, and executive roles. By contrast, blue-collar jobs generally involve manual labor and workers are paid either by the hour or on a piecework basis.
A white-collar worker, on the other hand, may have obtained their job through a more stringent hiring process and may be more difficult to fire. The income of those who don’t earn a salary may be contingent on maintaining a client base, such as private practice lawyers and physicians. But their position may be stable since the work requires specific skills. These terms also carry the perception that white-collar workers not only make more money than blue-collar workers, but that they also belong to different social classes.
Technology has revolutionized many jobs, and white-collar industries are no exception. An argument could be made that recent developments in technology have and will continue to rapidly disrupt how white-collar industries operate. The top end of blue-collar compensation ranges from $55,000 to more than $100,000. Mid-range blue-collar pay can be anywhere from $35,000 to more than $55,000, and sometimes into the six digits. These roles include truck drivers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, HVAC technicians, automotive repair persons, welders, machinists and bus drivers.
Advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning have and will continue to disrupt these industries. Other types of colored collar categories of workers are used less often. These include pink collar, green collar, gold collar, and gray collar. Unlike white and blue collars, the other categories are not derived from the workers traditionally wearing any particular color of shirts. Those who have this sort of job are characterized as members of the working class. Job insecurity may be another common concern in white-collar fields, particularly during times of economic uncertainty or industry disruptions.
Layoffs, restructuring, and outsourcing are all potential risks that white-collar workers may face when the economy isn’t doing as well. Though layoffs still happen with blue-collar workers, companies may be less inclined to downside workers physically assembling products as opposed to administrative oversight of those workers. White-collar workers are usually the suit and tie workers who work at a desk. While these distinctions still exist, the line between these two categories is fading. While blue-collar jobs were once less desirable compared to white-collar jobs, people are changing the way they think about work.
- Tasks that were once performed manually or on paper are now automated and streamlined through the use of software, cloud computing, and digital platforms.
- White-collar crime is a nonviolent crime committed for monetary gain.
- A white-collar worker, on the other hand, may have obtained their job through a more stringent hiring process and may be more difficult to fire.
- Skills can be acquired on the job or, more commonly, at a trade school.
- To say one person works a blue-collar job while another has a white-collar job implies a difference in earnings.
White-collar workers wore white shirts beneath suits, a requirement of office jobs. The differences between the terms blue- and white-collar showcase how we have historically perceived various industries, individuals’ educational attainment, their dress in the workplace, and their social class. But keep in mind that both blue-collar and white-collar jobs are critical to keeping the economy humming and for the smooth functioning of society. Blue-collar jobs are typically classified as involving manual labor and compensation by an hourly wage. Some fields that fall into this category include construction, manufacturing, maintenance, and mining. One of the primary advantages of white-collar jobs is the potential for higher earnings compared to many blue-collar positions.
As such, being a blue-collar worker doesn’t mean that you’re any less than someone who works a white-collar job in an office setting. White-collar jobs are generally more sought-after and thought to be more prestigious than blue-collar ones. That’s because society often perceives office jobs to be more desirable than those in the manufacturing or agricultural sector because that type of work requires manual or taxing labor. Some blue-collar workers may have to do physically demanding or exhausting tasks. Skills can be acquired on the job or, more commonly, at a trade school. There is a correlation between white-collar jobs and higher pay, but the gap in pay between professional and labor jobs is not what it once was.
It’s all about getting noticed, proving yourself, a developing yourself for advancement. You will thrive on the fulfillment you get from taking on new responsibilities and building up others. Make yourself indispensable and irreplaceable in any company, no matter what’s going on with the economy. Becoming a white-collar worker opens up a whole new world of opportunity. One of the key differences about being white-collar is that there are many levels of advancement.
A software engineer has the knowledge and skills to create a virtual house in the metaverse, but would not be equipped to build one in the real world, and vice versa. Blue-collar workers may not attain the same educational level as those who work white-collar jobs. That’s because office work typically requires post-secondary education. For instance, a company looking for accountants generally requires new hires to have an undergraduate degree in accounting or finance. By contrast, blue-collar jobs may require skills that can be obtained either on the job or by going to trade school. Lastly, advancements in technology have facilitated remote work options for many white-collar workers, providing flexibility in terms of location and schedule.