The terms "blue collar" and "white collar" was coined in the early 20th century by Upton Sinclair; these terms are occupational classifications that distinguish workers who perform manual labor from workers who perform professional jobs.



Historically, blue-collar workers wore uniforms, usually blue, and worked in trade occupations. White-collar workers typically wore white, button down shirts and worked in office settings. Other aspects that distinguish blue-collar and white-collar workers include earnings and education level.

Due to the new industries that happened after the Industrial Revolution a lot of Collar workers categories exist based on the colors of their collars worn as work; these can commonly reflect one's occupation or sometimes gender.

Some job categories involve duties that fall under one or more of the categories listed above, or none of the above. These categories include:



Blue-Collar Worker –This term was first used in 1924; it is a member of the working class, who performs manual labor and earns an hourly wage. It originates from the popularity that blue color enjoys among manual-laborers.

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White-Collar Worker – The term "white-collar worker" was coined in the 1930's by Upton Sinclair; it is a salaried professional, typically referring to general office workers and management. It originates from color of dress shirts worn by professional and clerical workers.

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Gold-Collar Worker– was first used by Robert Earl Kelley in his 1985 book The Gold-Collar Worker; It is a newly formed phrase which has been used to describe either young, low-wage workers who invest in conspicuous luxury (often with parental support). It is also used to refer to highly-skilled knowledge people who are highly valuable to the company. Example: Lawyers, doctors, research scientists, etc.



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Gray-Collar Worker – refers to the balance of employed people not classified as white or blue collar. Although grey-collar is something used to describe those who work beyond the age of retirement. Example: Fire fighters, police officers, health care professionals, Security Guards, etc.



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Green-Collar Worker – was first used by Patrick Heffernan in 1976; it is a worker who is employed in the environmental sectors of the economy. Example: People working in alternate energy sources like solar panels, Greenpeace, World Wide Fund for nature etc.



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Pink-Collar Worker – is employed in a job that is traditionally considered to be women’s work and is often low-paid. The term "pink-collar" was popularized in the late 1990's by writer and social critic Louise Kapp Howe specially who performs jobs in the service industry example: nurses, secretaries, and elementary school teachers.



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Scarlet-Collar Worker – is a term often used to refer to people who work in the pornography industry, especially women entrepreneurs in the field of internet pornography. The color scarlet has traditionally been associated with adultery.



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Orange-Collar Worker – Prison laborers, named for the orange jumpsuits commonly worn by inmates.



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Yellow-Collar Worker – People in the creative field, They may spend time doing both white and blue collar tasks as well as tasks outside either category example: Photographers, Filmmakers, Directors, Editors.

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Red-Collar Worker – Government workers of all types and farmers. Derived from compensation received from red ink budget. Also in China, refers to Communist Party officials in private companies

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Open-Collar Worker –is a worker who works from home, especially via the internet.

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Black-Collar Worker – is used to refer to workers in the mining or the oil industry. Sometimes, it is also used to refer to people who are employed in black marketing activities.

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No-Collar Worker – The new, exponentially emerging class rising up in America consisting of often over-qualified but unemployed persons or tech-industry professionals who eschew collars altogether.

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