N
The Global Insight

What are blue collar jobs?

Author

James Williams

Updated on March 27, 2026

Blue-Collar Workers Blue-collar worker refers to workers who engage in hard manual labor, typically agriculture, manufacturing, construction, mining, or maintenance. If the reference to a blue-collar job does not point to these types of work, it might imply another physically exhausting task.

What is white collar job?

A white-collar worker belongs to a class of employees known for earning higher average salaries doing highly skilled work, but not by performing manual labor at their jobs. White-collar workers historically have been the “shirt and tie” set, defined by office jobs and management, and not “getting their hands dirty.”

What are examples of white collar jobs?

A white-collar job is typically performed in an office environment and involves clerical, administrative or managerial duties. Some examples of industries with many white-collar jobs include tech, accounting, marketing and consulting.

What is yellow collar job?

Gold-collar – introduced in the early 2000s, this refers to a high skilled multi-disciplinarian or knowledge worker who combines intellectual labor—which is typically white-collar—with the manual labor of blue-collar positions.

What color collar is a teacher?

Teachers fall under the category of white collar workers. But somebody who has a blue collar job and is doing some training of others as part of their job is still considered a blue collar worker.

Are nurses blue or white collar?

Pink collar jobs are professions that are traditionally women’s professions, that require education but don’t pay like white collar jobs do. Teaching , nursing, social work, librarian, have all been considered pink collar jobs.

Is teacher a white collar?

Teachers fall under the category of white collar workers. But somebody who has a blue collar job and is doing some training of others as part of their job is still considered a blue collar worker. For example, your job is a machine operator.

Are there any blue collar jobs that pay well?

There are many blue-collar job options that pay well and are growing in demand. If you aren’t interested in obtaining a four-year college degree or working in an office, consider these top blue-collar career options. Training and Education Requirements Blue-collar jobs often require little to no college education.

What is the definition of a blue collar worker?

A blue-collar worker is typically a working-class person historically defined by hourly rates of pay and manual labor.

Do you need a college degree to get a blue collar job?

Though most blue-collar jobs don’t require a college degree, they may require a high school diploma or a general education development certificate. In addition, many blue-collar employees need specialized skills or expertise that relate to the job they’re performing. Related: Q&A: What Is a Blue Collar Job? Definition, Careers Options, and Skills

How are blue collar jobs threatened by automation?

Due to many blue-collar jobs involving manual labor and relatively unskilled workers, automation poses a threat of unemployment for blue-collar workers. One study from the MIT Technology Review estimates that 83% of jobs that make less than $20 per hour are threatened by automation.