Why We Can’t Only Focus on White-collar Workers

The bias in work narratives

The dominance of white-collar workers in employment discussions is not accidental. Historically, knowledge-based work has been associated with status and economic power, while manual labour has often been undervalued. The rise of the service economy and technological innovation has only reinforced this divide, making the concerns of office workers more visible. The shift to remote work during the pandemic, for instance, was extensively covered in the media, with countless articles examining its impact on productivity, mental health, and work-life balance. Yet for factory workers, delivery drivers and other such professions — who could not perform their duties from home — the conversation was far more limited. Their struggles, from increased exposure to the virus to exploitative conditions, rarely made front-page news.

This imbalance is also reflected in policymaking. Governments and corporations have spent years crafting policies that cater to professional workers, such as tax incentives for startups and investments in digital infrastructure [1]. Meanwhile, issues like stagnant minimum wages, declining union power, and hazardous working conditions in blue-collar sectors receive comparatively less attention. As economist David Autor has pointed out, “the hollowing out of middle-wage jobs in manufacturing and routine office work has led to an increasingly polarized labour market, with growth concentrated at both the high and low ends” [2]. Yet, discussions about workplace reform frequently prioritise knowledge workers rather than addressing the declining job security of those in manual trades.

Overlooked realities

While white-collar employees may face challenges such as burnout and digital surveillance, their working conditions generally offer more stability than those in manual or service industries. Many blue-collar workers operate under precarious conditions, often lacking benefits like sick pay or pensions. Gig economy workers, such as Uber drivers and food couriers, experience this insecurity acutely, as their classification as independent contractors rather than employees deprives them of essential protections. Juliet Schor, author of After the Gig: How the Sharing Economy Got Hijacked and How to Win It Back, argues that “platform companies have perfected the art of labour exploitation while marketing themselves as worker-friendly and flexible” [3].

For those engaged in physically demanding jobs, the risks are even greater. Construction workers, agricultural labourers, and factory employees face significant health hazards, yet workplace injuries and chronic ailments receive far less media scrutiny than, for example, discussions about ergonomic chairs or standing desks in office settings. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 5,000 fatal work injuries occur annually in the United States, with a disproportionate number affecting those in manual labour [4]. Yet, mainstream conversations about job safety rarely extend beyond cybersecurity threats and office stress.

Career mobility also differs starkly between white- and blue-collar professions. Whereas professional workers often have clear paths for advancement, many in lower-wage industries struggle with career stagnation. Automation looms as a major threat, yet while there is robust discussion about how artificial intelligence might impact software engineers and journalists, less is said about how self-checkout machines, warehouse robotics, and AI-driven logistics systems will displace millions of retail, warehouse, and transport workers.

Ireland

Ireland provides a striking example of the disparities between white- and blue-collar workers. While the country has experienced remarkable economic growth, largely driven by multinational tech and pharmaceutical companies, many service and manual labour workers have seen stagnant wages and rising living costs. The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has frequently highlighted the growing gap between high-earning professionals in Dublin’s financial and tech sectors and low-paid workers in hospitality, retail, and healthcare [5]. Despite government efforts to raise the minimum wage, many workers still struggle with job insecurity and a lack of affordable housing.

Additionally, the rise of the gig economy in Ireland has introduced new challenges. Delivery and Uber drivers have reported exploitative conditions, prompting legal battles over worker classification. In 2021, the Irish Labour Party introduced a bill aimed at providing platform workers with better protections, addressing the power imbalance between workers and app platforms [6]. The bill sought to update employment codes to prevent bogus self-employment and grant workers access to information about the algorithms that decide their pay and performance. However, many workers remain in precarious situations, lacking sick pay, pensions, and reliable contracts.

The construction sector, another major pillar of the Irish economy, has also faced labour shortages, partly due to a cultural emphasis on white-collar careers. As vocational training and apprenticeships have been de-emphasised in recent years, Ireland now struggles to find skilled tradespeople, which has exacerbated the housing crisis by slowing down construction projects [7]. Addressing these issues requires a shift in both policy and public perception to ensure all workers receive fair wages, protections, and recognition for their contributions.

Why bias matters

Ignoring non-white-collar workers has profound economic and social consequences. A society that prioritises knowledge-based employment risks overlooking the fundamental infrastructure that supports its economy. Essential workers in logistics, sanitation, food production, and public transport ensure that daily life functions smoothly, yet they are often the lowest-paid and most vulnerable to economic shocks. As Sarah Jaffe, author of Work Won’t Love You Back, notes, “we celebrate essential workers in times of crisis, but when the crisis ends, they are quickly forgotten” [8].

Beyond the economic implications, this bias also fuels social divisions. The glorification of white-collar careers perpetuates the idea that other forms of work are less valuable, discouraging young people from pursuing trades or service jobs. For example, in Jobber’s Annual Blue-Collar Report, 76% of those surveyed said there was a stigma associated with going to a vocational school instead of a traditional university, 61% said their parents had told them not to pursue the trades or hadn’t talked to them about it, and 47% said that tradespeople are shown in a bad light in media [9]. This contributes to persistent labour shortages in industries that are critical to national economies. In countries like Germany, governments have actively promoted vocational training as a way to counteract this imbalance, yet cultural perceptions remain difficult to shift [10].

Furthermore, the lack of attention to blue-collar and service workers distorts our understanding of economic inequality. Discussions about workplace fairness often centre on white-collar issues, such as gender pay gaps in executive positions, but neglect the wage stagnation and job insecurity affecting those in lower-income roles. The Economic Policy Institute has reported that while CEO pay has risen nearly 1,300% since 1978, wages for the bottom 90% of workers have barely budged in real terms [11]. Without shifting our focus to include all workers, debates about inequality remain incomplete.

A more inclusive approach

To build a fairer and more accurate discussion about work, we must broaden our perspective. This requires acknowledging and amplifying the voices of workers across all sectors, not just those in offices. Journalists and researchers should prioritise stories that explore the realities of retail workers, warehouse staff, and gig economy labourers with the same depth and urgency as they do the challenges of remote work or corporate burnout.

Policymakers must also address disparities in worker protections. Labour laws need to evolve to secure fair wages, stable contracts, and health protections for those in physically demanding or precarious jobs. Some countries have begun to implement reforms — Spain, for instance, passed a law in 2021 recognising gig workers as employees rather than independent contractors, a move hailed by labour advocates as a crucial step towards equity [12].

Education systems, too, should reflect the value of all types of work. Societies that push every student towards a university degree and a corporate career risk devaluing vocational skills and exacerbating worker shortages in crucial industries. A shift in mindset is necessary — one that sees trade and service jobs not as fallback options, but as essential, respectable, and well-compensated career paths.

Expanding the conversation

The tendency to write primarily about white-collar workers creates a distorted picture of the workforce, reinforcing economic and social inequalities. By expanding our narratives to include blue-collar and service workers, we can foster a more inclusive understanding of work — one that recognises the contributions of all labourers, values their struggles, and ensures that policies reflect the needs of the entire workforce. The future of work cannot be defined solely by those behind desks; it must encompass everyone who keeps society running.

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