Designation of workers by collar color

The term "white-collar worker" was coined in the 1930s by Upton Sinclair, an American writer who referenced the word in connection to clerical, administrative and managerial functions during the 1930s. A white-collar worker is a salaried professional, typically referring to general office workers and management. ==Blue collar==

er at work in Venezuela, doing a typical "blue-collar" job. A blue-collar worker is a member of the working class who performs manual labor and either earns an hourly wage or is paid piece rate for the amount of work done. This term was first used in 1924. == Pink collar ==

A pink-collar worker is someone who works in a position traditionally held by women. Jobs commonly referred to as "pink-collar" include nursing, education and customer service. The term was coined in the late 1970s as a phrase to describe jobs that were typically held by women. ==Other classifications==

There are a number of other terms used less frequently, or which translate to English from common use in other languages. These categories include: • Red collar – Government workers of all types; • New collar – Develops technical and soft skills through nontraditional education paths. • No collar – Artists and "free spirits" who tend to privilege passion and personal growth over financial gain. This term was popularized on the reality game show Survivor: Worlds Apart, which used No Collar (in addition to White and Blue Collar) as the tribal divisions; also, people who work, but not for payment. • Green collar – Usually referring a wide range of professions relating to the environment and renewable energy, but can also refer to military personnel. • Purple collar - Jobs that require a combination of blue-collar and white-collar skills, often in technical fields, and requiring the worker to hold specialized degrees, licenses, or certifications. Possible examples are IT support specialists, and skilled trades supervisors. • Black collar – Manual laborers in industries in which workers generally become very dirty, such as mining or oil-drilling. Or, in a modern context, creative professionals who wear black clothing, such as in performing arts, design and architecture. It may also refer to illegal employment and the black market. • Gray collar – Refers to labor which blurs the line between blue- and white-collar work. Gray collar work requires both physical and intellectual labour, and may require specialized training or college degrees. Commonly given examples of gray collar workers are first responders, nurses, conservationists, and pilots. • Brass collar – Refers to an official representative of the railroad. • Rainbow collar – LGBTQIA+ workers, who are more likely to work in fields that are non-exclusive to their same-gender. • Gold collar - Highly skilled professionals who are in high demand and highly paid workers in specialized career fields (e.g, doctors, lawyers, senior executives). Coined by Robert Kelley in his book, The Gold Collar Worker (1985). ==References==