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The workforce back in the day was divided into two groups. Workers belonged to either the white-collared group or the blue-collared group. These groups were named after the type of attire each group wore to work. White collar workers were typically in office settings and wore white buttons down shirts. This group typically had a college degree and usually earned a higher income than their blue-collar counterparts.
Blue collar workers were named for the type of shirt or uniform that they wore to work, which was typically a simple blue uniform. They primarily performed manual labor jobs that did not require a college degree.
A New Class of Workers
In today’s world a majority of companies are considered a technology company. With the infiltration of artificial intelligence, machine learning, augmented and virtual reality entering our lives and offices, so the growing need for skilled laborers to help build and support these technologies arises.
With the shift in tech jobs and the shortage of similar skills in our country, emerges a new class of workers. This new class of workers is blurring the stark divide of white- and blue-collar jobs. More and more businesses are looking for this particular type of skill set. Interestingly enough the individuals they seek doesn’t necessarily need to have a 4-year degree to fill this niche position. This digital-savvy skillset possesses a mix of technical and soft skills required to perform the types of tasks this position requires. Tasks like coding, data science, and cloud computing. As the skills gap continues to intensify what is this new secret weapon group coined?
“New Collar Workers”
So why the new class of workers? With the tech industry growing within companies at a rapid rate, it is unrealistic to fill open positions with new graduates. By definition, a new collar job is a position that requires vocational training but not a 4-year degree. So these jobs can be performed by non-degree holding workers with the right skills. Workers in these roles have to perform specialized tasks that are highly technical, so many are turning to alternative educations paths. Examples of this could be coding camps, online classes for certification and other types of vocational training. Some companies are building in initiatives to help prepare for these technical jobs within the company, such as train-to-hire programs, and apprenticeships.
Where to Look for New Collar Jobs
The range of people that new-collar jobs are qualified for can vary for multiple reasons. The new-collar type of jobs are ideal for those who do not have a 4-year degree and do not necessarily wish to get one. These jobs are also great for those who do not find the buttoned-up office environment appealing. Popular new collar jobs include pharmacy technicians, dental and medical assistants, cloud computing technicians & automotive technicians to name a few.
Looking to Fill New Collar Positions?
There is such a demand on companies for these New-Collar workers that many can’t keep up. Outreach takes time and resources a lot of companies do not have. There are many good third-party options. However, full-service talent acquisition and optimization full-service talent acquisition and optimization firm like Qualigence offers support in many ways and specializes in IT roles. Unlike many agencies, their sourcing analysts compile a list of passive and active candidate names, generate buzz around the new role, and pre-screen quality candidates. The only names you get are the ones who ACTUALLY expressed interest and show promise. This allows your internal and external recruiting teams to take a breather and focus on what they do best…recruiting.
