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... > social science subjects > business and management > sociology of work > sociology of work encyc > occupations and professions, labor processes, jobs, and careers > blue-collar jobs
... > social science subjects > sociology > sociology of work > sociology of work encyc > occupations and professions, labor processes, jobs, and careers > blue-collar jobs

Preferred term

blue-collar jobs  

Definition

  • Blue-collar work is a label used by social scientists and the general public, though usage in the social science community has dwindled in recent years in favor of other terms such as manual work or craft work. Blue-collar work encompasses those whose work (1) contains a significant manual component to it, involving the application of applied knowledge to specific problems involved in manufacturing and servicing consumer durables and myriad mechanical devices that constitute the business and transportation infrastructure; (2) requires the application of applied knowledge normally not acquired in college and university settings, but instead acquired in trade schools, apprenticeships, and accumulated experiences on the job; and (3) historically was the target of union organizing campaigns in the early to mid-20th century in the United States and slightly earlier in most European Union (EU) countries. [Source: Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia; Blue-Collar Jobs]

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https://concepts.sagepub.com/social-science/concept/blue-collar_jobs

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