Types of Job Collars Explained: Blue Collar vs. White Collar and More

What you wear to work can be an indication of what kind of work you do. It also makes for some handy labels for different categories of work—blue collar, white collar, or even no collar.

Types of Job Collars at a Glance

What Does White Collar Mean?

“White collar” is a term that emerged in the 1930s to refer to the white shirts that people who worked in offices typically wore. Often associated with wearing a tie, being a white-collar worker usually means managerial or administrative work in an office. These jobs may require at least an associate or bachelor’s degree, though some employers may prefer experience over formal education.¹

What Is a Blue Collar Job?

Blue collar first came up as a counterpoint to white collars. The term was first used in the early 20th century to describe trade jobs.  For blue-collar workers, think of the blue jumpsuits or denim work shirts often worn by mechanics or factory workers. Blue-collar jobs are historically associated with less formal education and more physical labor. In the 1940s, blue-collar workers were described as “those who produce with their hands,” including mechanics, welders, electricians, and laborers. Blue-collar jobs may involve formal or on-the-job training, apprenticeships, or internships. Some positions may require obtaining a license or certification, depending on the industry.¹

What About Pink Collar?

Although blue collar and white collar initially reflected the predominant color of the clothes of workers, the rise of pink-collar workers in the 1970s was about gender. Social critic Louise Kapp Howe coined “pink collar” to refer to nursing, teaching, and social work positions, because they were considered “women’s work,” and consequently paid lower salaries.1 More and more women were joining the workforce, mostly in service jobs, and pink was associated with femininity. Pink-collar workers tended to work in retail, administrative services, education, and customer service. The term is now considered outdated since it no longer reflects a contemporary, integrated workforce. It remains in use, however, when examining issues of the labor market.²

What Is a Green Collar Job?

Green collar was yet another evolution—and we are not talking about 1970s lime-green leisure suits. Green is associated with the environmental movement, and people working in environmental jobs became known as “green workers” or “green-collar workers.” Green-collar employees tend to focus on implementing environmentally conscious designs, policies, and technologies designed to help improve conservation and sustainability.³

What Other Types of Job Collars Are There?

The colored-collar designation makes for an easy shorthand, so many more have been coined, although they are not used nearly as widely as blue collar and white collar. 

• Gray collar: These jobs mix physical labor and technical skills, so they fall somewhere in between white- and blue-color roles. Examples include firefighters, police officers, first responders, IT staff, and healthcare workers.³
• Gold collar: Workers in specialized fields such as law, engineering, or medicine.³
• Chrome collar: Jobs that can be automated or done by robots.⁴
• No collar: As the name implies, people in no-collar jobs are not bound by the usual work world. Artists, gig economy workers, and volunteers can be considered no-collar workers.⁴
• New collar: This relatively new classification refers to workers trained for technology jobs through nontraditional pathways, such as coding boot camps, certification programs, and internships, rather than a four-year degree.4

Regardless of what color collar your job or industry might be associated with, there are always opportunities for professionals with strong business skills and knowledge. You may wish to consider a BS in Business Administration or a Master of Business Administration (MBA) to take your skills—or collar—to a new level.

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Master of Business Administration (MBA): For those looking to further their education to the graduate level, Walden’s MBA program offers advanced business strategies and management techniques. You'll develop critical thinking, strategic planning, and leadership skills that are applicable across industries and collar types. The program includes opportunities to specialize in healthcare management, human resource management, or to design your own specialization. Walden’s online MBA degree program is ACBSP accredited.

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¹Source: rethinkq.adp.com/history-white-collar-vs-blue-collar/
²Source: www.themuse.com/advice/pink-collar-jobs
³Source: www.investopedia.com/articles/wealth-management/120215/blue-collar-vs-white-collar-different-social-classes.asp
⁴Source: lvb.com/color-work-collar/