What is a Blue Collar Job?
The term blue collar job typically refers to a job that involves manual labor and receives an hourly rate of pay rather than an annual salary. The term blue collar stems from the uniforms worn by many industrial workers that were typically made of heavy duty, blue fabric and consisted of blue shirts and pants or blue coveralls. The automotive manufacturing and repair industries as well as the construction industry have been referred to as blue collar for decades. Though a blue collar job was once thought to be reserved for people with no education or skill who were seemingly only qualified to perform manual labor, the defining qualities of a blue collar job no longer fit in some industries. For example, many computer and high tech jobs pay by the hour and some construction industry positions pay an annual salary. In modern times, a blue collar job may also require education for a number of positions, which are categorized as “skilled trades.” People who have traditionally held a blue c
For many years, jobs have been divided into white collar, service industry, and blue collar classifications. White collar workers are those in professional fields, administration, or other positions that do not require manual labor. Those in the service industry work in positions that involve interaction with customers, such as jobs in sales, food, or entertainment. Blue collar workers perform manual labor and generally earn an hourly pay rate. Often blue collar work is associated with a lack of education, but this is not the case. Many blue collar jobs require advanced skills, technical training, or years of apprenticeship.
