Blue Or White: Which Is The Right Collar?
Date Posted: December 19, 2024
Posted In: Discussion, Workforce,
From Forbes: 2025 is almost upon us, and in the space of a few short years it feels like everything has changed in the workplace. After decades of college being promoted for every student, employers are now moving toward skills-first hiring that places a premium not on your college degree, but your actual skill set.
Meanwhile, the cost of getting that college degree has risen to a number that is making even diehard collegebound families blink. Higher education’s ROI doesn’t seem to be as big as it used to be, and the majority of young people today think they’ll be just fine without it.
These shifts have left many people asking: What’s the better career path in today’s world, white collar or blue collar? I believe we need more of everything—more college degrees, yes, but also more credentials. More certifications, more licensures, more apprenticeships. More on-the-job learning opportunities. More bootcamps. More of everything, more of all color collars is needed to keep moving the economy forward.
“In today’s evolving workforce, the lines between blue-collar and white-collar jobs are blurring as skill, demand, pay, and values shift,” says Will White, Solar Application Specialist at Fluke. “Historically, white-collar jobs were seen as the path to prestige, stability, and financial success, while blue-collar roles were associated with hands-on, physically demanding work and long hours. But times are changing.