ouvrier

An ouvrier is a person who performs manual labor, especially in manufacturing, construction, and maintenance. The term is used in French-speaking countries and generally refers to workers who perform physical tasks, as opposed to white-collar workers such as employés or cadres. The feminine form is ouvrière; plural for mixed gender is ouvriers and ouvrières as appropriate.

In historical context, the category grew with industrialization, when factory-based work and crafts drew labor into organized movements. Ouvriers have been a focal point of French and European labor unions and political movements advocating improvements in wages, working hours, and safety.

In modern usage, ouvriers span a broad range of trades, including factory line workers, construction laborers, and agricultural workers (ouvriers agricoles). Some subcategories include ouvriers spécialisés (skilled workers) and ouvriers non qualifiés (unskilled workers). The term is often contrasted with employés (clerical or administrative staff) and with cadres (managers or professionals).

In statistical and legal language, 'ouvrier' is used to classify workers based on job content rather than social status, though gendered language remains common in everyday speech and in official documents. The concept also intersects with social class discussions about the working class and the changing nature of manual labor in the 21st century, where automation and outsourcing affect job roles.