whitecollar

White-collar refers to workers who perform professional, managerial, administrative, or clerical tasks, typically in office environments. The term contrasts with blue-collar, which denotes manual or industrial labor. The phrase originated in the early 20th century in the United States, pointing to the white dress shirts worn by office workers as a sign of professional status, cleanliness, and formal conduct.

Common white-collar roles include executives and managers, administrators, accountants, engineers, lawyers, teachers, information technology professionals, analysts, consultants, and other office-based professionals. They are often employed on a salaried basis and focus on knowledge work, planning, problem solving, decision making, and coordination rather than physical production.

Work characteristics tend to center on cognitive tasks, routine procedures, documentation, and use of computer systems. Education requirements are typically higher, ranging from bachelor’s degrees to professional credentials. Compensation generally exceeds that of many blue-collar jobs, though it varies widely by industry, geography, and experience, and job security has fluctuated with economic trends, automation, and outsourcing.

Trends and discussion around white-collar work include the growth of knowledge-based careers, digitalization, and the globalization of services. These forces have contributed to changes in tasks, work schedules, and employment arrangements, such as remote or hybrid work. The term also faces critique for reinforcing gendered or class-based stereotypes and for obscuring diversity among office workers and evolving workplace practices.