Blue collar work is any work that deals with manual labor or physical work. This includes mechanics, plumbers, fireman, and even dental hygienists. These careers are often looked down on, but are necessary to the function of society.

Society as a whole has deemed physical labor as inferior to office jobs. College is considered a priority over hands on careers. Students are encouraged to go to college and don’t see these careers as options, but these are important to society.

Eric Schulzke, in an article on the stigma against blue collar work, argued that “Many have long argued that the emphasis on four-year college degrees has obscured high-value career paths that are more technical and hands on.” Schulzke also made an argument against the idea that college graduates make more than others. He found that “20 percent of technical certificate holders make more than the average [Bachelor of the Arts], while 30 percent of associate’s degrees earn more than the average four-year graduate. And that, he says, holds true not just after graduation, but 20 years after as well.”

American culture also favors white collar jobs. The Huffington Post, in an article written by Sean McGarvey, pointed out that “American comedy has increasingly become a forum for abusing blue-collar career values in order to provide humor for the white-collar class.” This furthers proves the point that white collar jobs are seen as superior. McGarvey alo found that “American comedy is now being used to denigrate the worth of blue-collar jobs, make fun of blue-collar values, and mock the lifestyle of blue-collar families.”

“Driving the skilled-labor shortage is a remarkable resurgence in American manufacturing,” Joel Kotkin worries, regarding the lower numbers of skilled factory workers. Kotkin wrote that the need for employees in this field hasn’t decreased: “Since 2009, the number of job openings in manufacturing has been rising, with average annual earnings of $73,000, well above the average earnings in education, health services, and many other fields, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data.”

Blue collar work is necessary for society to function. Where would society be without garbage collectors taking trash every week? The average person can’t always fix their car and rely on mechanics to do it for them. People in these careers build houses, lay bricks, put out fires, mine, manufacture products, and more. Don’t look down on blue collar workers who didn’t go to college. We wouldn’t have these necessary services without them.

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