What comes to mind if you think about a typical American worker?
Do you think about business people wearing suits and hurrying to meetings? Or do you consider what most people consider blue-collar occupations, such as plumbers, carpenters, and construction workers?
Blue-collar occupations account for a sizable component of the American labor force, not to mention their importance to the country's functioning—a sometimes forgotten reality.
This article will explain what blue-collar employees are, what occupations are called blue-collar, and what the future holds for this kind of worker.
A blue-collar worker does physical labor, does work that requires them to use their hands, or works in construction, maintenance, or repair industries.
A blue-collar worker's level of education and training might range from that of a highly skilled professional like an electrician to that of an unskilled laborer.
Blue-collar work has historically had lower wages and higher danger levels than white-collar work, but this is beginning to change.
Blue-collar jobs typically involve harsh conditions, physical labor, increased risk to personal well-being, or low-skilled employment. Blue-collar jobs are also often referred to as working-class jobs or out-of-office jobs.
Here are just a few examples of blue-collar jobs:
Traditionally, jobs under the blue-collar classification drove the economies of countries across the globe, particularly first-world nations. In times when blue collar jobs are not highly pursued by upcoming generations, labor shortages may occur.
White-collar jobs are what are more widely known as "desk jobs." A white-collar employee could work in a formal setting, such as an office, or an informal one, like their home.
The work done in these roles is more information-based and can contain administrative responsibilities.
Alternatively, a blue-collar job may lean more towards physical labor, making it likely to work outdoors or in an industrial environment.
The work may require technical skills or none, depending on its exact nature.
Below is a list of examples of industries where you can find a lot of blue-collar workers:
For example, you could work as a tower technician in the telecommunications sector.
In contrast to white-collar occupations, higher education is usually not required for blue-collar jobs. However, traditionally, workers with a high school diploma would be deemed eligible for the role.
It is becoming more common for skilled blue-collar workers to require a university degree or previous work experience.
There are currently a lot of blue-collar job opportunities, and this industry is expected to grow and develop further in the next few years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there will be 5% job growth in the HVAC industry over the next ten years.
By 2050, the US renewable energy sector will provide more than 600,000 wind turbine technician jobs.
For skilled roles, technical training is necessary. Training is achieved through multiple methods, such as on-the-job training and trade schools.
In a trade school like Pinnacle Career Institute (PCI), students are offered various courses depending on their careers.
The skills of a wind turbine technician are covered under one of the training programs available. This approach is perfect for those seeking a career focused on wind energy, where the core of the learning lies in building and maintaining wind turbines.
There are a couple of advantages of working in a blue-collar job.
One would be that the demand for such jobs will likely stick around for a while, which makes it more stable.
White-collar workers risk being laid off when their organizations downsize or switch to outsourcing employees for cost-cutting.
On the other hand, blue-collar workers, such as plumbers and electricians, are always in need.
Another would be the flexibility and potential ownership. Working under an organization would allow you to be outdoors and onsite and not be held within a corporate office. Eventually, you can venture into a business and sell your skills directly to customers.
Many blue-collar jobs offer competitive salaries, especially for those with specialized skills or certifications. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, several blue-collar jobs have median annual salaries of over $50,000.
Therefore, contrary to popular belief, blue-collar jobs pay well and provide financial security.
Job security is also offered as white-collar jobs can be replaced by automation. For example, off-the-shelf accounting software can now support an accountant's job.
However, when a house is undergoing electricity problems, having someone hands-on to address a particular issue is much more suitable than a robot.
Such skills and maintenance have low chances of being entirely replaced by software.
Opportunities for advancement are always there. For example, the basic skills of operating a machine or constructing a building can be transferable from one location or project to another.
As a person spends more time in the field they're in, they'll understand the end-to-end process and can become an expert. In short, where they were once manual laborers for a construction project, they could eventually become a consultant.
One common misconception is that blue-collar workers are less intelligent than white-collar workers. Regardless of level of higher education, blue-collar workers of course possess many of the same creative skills, decision-making capabilities, and various forms of intelligence as any other worker.
It is also assumed that they don't add value, which couldn't be further from the truth. On the contrary, they work hard behind the scenes by ensuring that foundations are strong and facilities are hygienic and operating effectively.
Similarly, a misconception is that they are easily replaced because they are thought not to add value. In addition, due to a shift in preference from a white-collar job to a blue-collar one, there are now fewer blue-collar workers. When a blue-collar worker is hired for the job, their unique skills, whether it be technical or interpersonal, may not be replaceable by another.
Although one may think a certain job type isn't creative or intellectually demanding, it requires that worker to exert many different types of experience and knowledge to try and fix a technical issue.
Blue-collar workers can also be called manual laborers, as their responsibilities lean more toward physical work than analytical.
Due to this, it is usually not mandatory to have higher education to qualify for such a job. However, technical skills are often needed. Therefore, training is necessary. At PCI Training, we provide programs to equip those with the technical skills they need in their blue-collar professions.