You’ve heard the terms get tossed around, but what differentiates a blue collar worker from a white collar worker? Do you need a certain level of education for either? How much do they make; can I live off of a blue collar/white collar salary? Learn what the difference between the two is, and whether you would rather live a blue collar life or a white collar life
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/bluecollar-worker-whitecollar-worker-11074.html
Myths About the Blue Collar Life
“In 1900, 38% of all workers were farmers, with another 31% in other trades such as mining, manufacturing, construction, etc. Only about 30% of the workforce labored in service industries (defined as providing intangible goods). Fast forward 100 years, and you see almost the exact reverse. In 1999, over 75% of the labor pool worked in the service industry (most often in an office), and farming saw a precipitous decline to a mere 3%, and other trades down to 19%.”
Blue collar jobs are often looked down upon, and there are myths (inferiority, lack of brains, undesirability) about being just a blue collar worker. Here are some of those myths debunked!
Opting for Blue Collar Life Instead of College
Are you thinking that you’re done with school? They say college isn’t for everybody, and some would rather just skip college and get to work. Is forgetting college and going straight into the blue collar life a good choice? In this article, you’ll learn that bypassing college is not the end of the world, and about advantages of opting for a blue collar lifestyle as opposed to going to college.
Taking Blue Collar Jobs As An Educated Person
What happens when you graduate from college, think you’ve got a great life ahead of you, and realize that you actually hate your job? Many graduates would be hesitant to look into blue collar jobs, after they’ve already gone through the hassle of getting a degree, and would rather suffer through miserable jobs than opt for that route. After all, only dumb people go for blue collar jobs, right? WRONG. Read the story of how this graduate ended up doing something totally unrelated.
You graduate. You find a job. You love your job. But you’re not making enough money to support your lifestyle. For whatever reason, your career isn’t enough, so you have to take up a side job. Matt Debenham, an undergraduate professor in Connecticut tells the story of having to pick up a second job at a local convenience store just so he can get by, and having to balance both his blue collar and white collar jobs.
Blue Collar Jobs Ready to Explode
I can make HOW MUCH as a blue collar worker? What jobs are about to blow up? I bet you had no idea an elevator installer makes over $70,000 a year, or that a subway operator makes over $28 an hour. The minimum wage and average salaries for a lot of these technical jobs will surprise you, and might change your opinion about living near the poverty line if you decide to go this route.
- http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2011/11/22/9-Hot-Blue-Collar-Jobs-That-Are-Getting-Hotter
- http://www.forbes.com/pictures/efkk45ieei/20-high-paying-blue-collar-jobs/
- http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/30/job-economy-middle-skill-growth-wage-blue-collar/14797413/
Making Money as a Blue Collar Worker
Living life as a white collar worker, might be a thing of the past, especially after the recession. Sure, going to college will get you a degree, but there are so many more people going to college now than there were 20 years ago. This means there’s actually a DEMAND for people in skilled trades. So what do people who have avoided college and gone for trade school turned out like? Find out how some of these people feel about their choice.
- http://www.forbes.com/sites/investopedia/2012/02/01/blue-collar-can-mean-big-money/
- http://www.silive.com/southshore/index.ssf/2011/08/betting_on_the_blue-collar_lif.html
Mike Rowe Talks “Dirty Jobs”
Sure, he got some screen time being funny and exploring the jobs nobody wanted to do. But he knows a thing or two about having to do the dirty work, so what does Mike Rowe think about those working hard in the jobs nobody wants? Here’s an interview with the tv show host about his experiences doing the average man’s jobs for everyone else’s amusement.
Perceptions of a Blue Collar Worker
Unfortunately, there can be negative connotations to being a blue collar worker. Some may think that you’re beneath them, or see you as unintelligent. This is a letter sent to Carolyn Hax, about a girl who’s mother won’t accept her boyfriend Tom. She is a college graduate, while Tom is an average Joe, who although financially independent and stable, is seen as unworthy.
Downside: Blue Collar Jobs are Disappearing in Some Places
Sometimes, all small towns have to offer their residents are blue collar jobs. This is often in the poorer regions, and those who live there might rely on a specific job for their entire lives. But what happens when the town’s company goes bankrupt, and these people have no plan B? There are downsides to the blue collar life..
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/16/us/16ohio.html?pagewanted=all
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/12/the-ten-states-blue-collar_n_895046.html
- http://www.crainscleveland.com/article/20141121/BLOGS03/141129948/middle-class-lifestyle-no-longer-affordable-for-many-blue-collar
Blue Collar Workers and Health
Blue collar workers are known for their resiliency, for being tough. They might not show it, but this takes a toll on their health. Unfortunately, they are amongst employees with the worst health in the United States, and suffer from chronic health problems. This is due to a variety of factors, but being exposed to and interacting with hazardous materials is one of the many dangers of being a blue collar worker.
