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The Rise of the Gray-Collar Worker

Most people have heard of blue- or white-collar jobs. The term white collar usually refers to salaried office jobs, while the phrase blue-collar typically refers to more hands-on labor.

But technology is blurring the lines between what used to be seen as more distinct job categories. For example, with the increasingly complicated technology built into cars, auto mechanics now benefit from tech skills and abilities.

This blurring of the collar colors is a factor in the emergence of a new job category—something being called a gray-collar worker.

What Are Gray-Collar Workers?

The term refers to jobs that are highly skilled (and often highly compensated) but may not require a college degree to perform. Today, they may include industries like tech, healthcare, and service or hospitality with experienced workers leveraging skill sets they acquired in the real world, trade or tech schools, or certifications and licenses.

The gray collar includes a wide and varied range of professions, some of which include:

  • Airline pilots
  • Lab technicians
  • Childcare workers
  • Chef
  • Law enforcement officials
  • Software developer or engineers
  • IT professionals
  • First responders
  • Flight attendants
  • Paralegals
  • Clergy

Gray-Collar Workers Are Often Classified as Essential Workers

Gray-collar workers are typically highly specialized, holding some of the most crucial positions in the workforce and our lives—often considered essential workers from first responders and healthcare professionals to food provision, manufacturing, and distribution.

Leading the Way into the Future

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists 20 jobs that it predicts will grow fastest within the next several years. From veterinary technicians (21% projected growth rate) to nurse practitioners (45% projected growth rate), the gray-collar category has a substantial presence on the list.

And these jobs appear to have staying power in the current and future workforce for several reasons:

  • They don’t always require a four-year college (or the related cost) to enter or succeed in them
  • Reskilling and upskilling (or even apprenticeships) can offer entry points to learn and develop on the job
  • These can be lucrative career choices for younger workers
  • It’s not easy to automate a job that involves both physical activity and technical knowledge.
  • Technological savvy is valued but not the only skill set that can be developed to excel in these roles
  • Filled with opportunities and a chance to be at the forefront of a quickly evolving economy.

Retaining Gray Collor Workers

To attract, retain, and support this segment of the workforce, there are a few things you can do:

1. Invest in Skills

The World Economic Forum reports that the most important skills required in the near future include:

  • Analytical and critical thinking
  • Problem-solving and reasoning
  • Creativity
  • Mental strength
  • Technology

According to the Forum, about half of all employees urgently need reskilling to keep up.

Many employers are now faced with a sizable skills gap, where what the organization needs exceeds employees’ current skills. They can devote resources to upskilling and reskilling, enhancing employees’ expertise for a current or different job.

This can be a massive challenge. However, resources abound in the forms of specialized certification programs, on-the-job training, community college courses, and professional association programs. Apprenticeships are even becoming popular. Also, conducting a skills assessment may reveal a need to recruit for new skill sets.

2. Make the Jobs Attractive

People are often attracted to jobs that not only allow them to use their knowledge productively but also make them feel appreciated and respected. Employers can reassess the following and adjust their practices as needed:

  • Compensation and benefits. An attractive package of salary or wages, benefits, and bonuses as appropriate for the job.
  • Safety. Ample equipment, supplies, and procedures that protect employees, especially in high-risk jobs.
  • Training opportunities. Investments in skill acquisition and updates.
  • Recognition. Encouraging and appreciating input from all employees, celebrating accomplishments.
  • The workplace. Develop a positive work environment, great culture, and ways to avoid and address burnout.

Opportunities Abound

The increasing value of gray-collar jobs is emerging. Auto mechanics are gaining technological skills as cars become more and more like computers on wheels. Nurse practitioners are taking on what used to be exclusively doctors’ tasks.

In the PBS NewsHour segment, Mike Rowe, host of the television series Dirty Jobs, says, “This country is going to enter a new age of work, a new age of making things and fixing things and building things. An age where skilled workers are going to be in demand like never before.”

Gray-collar workers are a huge part of the future of the workforce. Considering how they work into your staffing and hiring needs can be a worthy investment for a thriving business, the larger economy, and a bright—and gray—future.

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