What’s The Color Of Your Collar? Know Your Job Classification Here (2024)

FAQs

What does collar color mean in work? ›

White-collar workers typically perform professional, administrative, or managerial tasks in office settings. Blue-collar workers typically engage in manual labor or skilled trades such as construction, manufacturing, or maintenance.

The term pink-collar worker was used to distinguish female-orientated jobs from the blue-collar worker, a worker in manual labor, and the white-collar worker, a professional or educated worker in office positions. A pink collar worker need not require as much professional training as white-collar professions.

“Blue collar” is one classification of employees based on the type of labor they perform. The blue collar worker definition indicates that these workers perform primarily manual labor. Other similar classifications include white collar, pink collar, black collar and more.

Historically, wage earners were divided into categories based on the type of attire they wore. Blue-collar workers wore blue-colored clothing for work in fields and factories. White-collar workers wore white shirts beneath suits, a requirement of office jobs.

Red-collar jobs refer to government workers of all types. The term originates from compensation received from red ink budgets. Orange-collar jobs refer to prison laborers, named for the very bright orange jumpsuits worn by inmates. Brown-collar jobs are military jobs.

There are several types of collars. The three basic types are flat, standing, and rolled.

Scarlet collar – Workers in the sex industry. Black collar – Manual laborers in industries in which workers generally become very dirty, such as mining or oil-drilling; has also been used to describe workers in illegal professions. Open collar – Refers to a worker who works from home, via Internet likely freelancers.

A pink collar worker is an employee who undertakes roles traditionally considered to be women's jobs, such as teacher, florist, child care, secretary, nurse, domestic helper, etc.

Grey collar jobs are a category of employment that blurs the lines between white collar (professional, managerial, or administrative work) and blue collar (manual labor, skilled trades, or service industry work).

What is a white and blue-collar job? ›

Blue collar workers perform manual labor, often in non-office settings like construction sites or production lines. Their name originates from the durable blue fabrics they traditionally wore. White collar workers, in contrast, work in offices and typically wear white, collared shirts.

White-collar employees typically perform duties in a clerical capacity by developing, communicating and implementing ideas. Blue-collar responsibilities sometimes require physical labor with machinery, vehicles or equipment. They might also require the use of specific software or tools.

Yellow-collar jobs describe professions within creative industries. These types of jobs are incredibly diverse and may involve both white-collar and blue-collar tasks and responsibilities.

"White collar” typically refers to jobs in an office setting involving managerial, administrative or clerical duties with little to no manual labor. First used in the 1930s, the term referred to the white shirts typically worn by people who worked in offices.

Some examples of blue-collar jobs include construction workers, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, machinists, heating and air conditioning technicians, truck drivers, mechanics, miners, factory workers and farmers.

Gray-collar workers are typically highly specialized, holding some of the most crucial positions in the workforce and our lives—often considered essential workers from first responders and healthcare professionals to food provision, manufacturing, and distribution.

Yellow-collar jobs

An individual in a yellow-collar profession may or may not need a college degree, though it may help them hone their creative skills and capabilities, making them a more marketable candidate for a creative position. Some yellow-collar jobs include: Photographers. Creative writers.

Blue-collar jobs typically involve physically demanding manual work, including farming, factory work, and construction, while white-collar jobs normally take place in office settings, involving clerical, administrative, and managerial tasks.