Blue-collar Boom

Extracted Attributes

• Definition

  An increasing demand for skilled labor in manual and technical sectors, observed globally.

• Associated Term

  Generation Toolbelt

• Driving Factors

  Rising costs and student debt associated with higher education, challenging its traditional value proposition.

• Historical Trend

  Has seen cycles of growth and decline.

• Wage Growth (US)

  5-6% annually for blue-collar wages.

• Impact on Workforce

  Shift in labor market preferences and economic opportunities, with a growing favor for skilled trades.

• Benefiting Industries

  Construction, manufacturing, and renewable energy.

• AI Susceptibility Contrast

  White-collar workers are generally more susceptible to technological unemployment caused by AI compared to blue-collar workers.

• Job Additions (Since April 2020)

  4.5 million jobs in construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

• Blue-collar Job Decline (2000-2010)

  From 24.6 million to 17.8 million jobs.

• Blue-collar Job Rebound (Post-2010)

  Reached 19.6 million jobs.

• Blue-collar Employment Percentage (1970)

  31.2% of total nonfarm employment.

Timeline

• Blue-collar jobs constituted 31.2% of total nonfarm employment, primarily in manufacturing, mining, and construction. (Source: web_search_results)

  1970

• A sharp decline in blue-collar jobs occurred, from 24.6 million to 17.8 million, due to globalization, automation, and the Great Recession. (Source: web_search_results)

  2000-2010

• Beginning of a period (through February 2020) where inflation-adjusted overall worker earnings grew significantly, cited as part of a 'blue-collar boom' by some. (Source: web_search_results)

  2017-01-01

• U.S. manufacturing experienced a mild recession, contradicting claims of a widespread 'blue-collar boom' at the time. (Source: web_search_results)

  2019

• Since this month, 4.5 million jobs have been added in construction, manufacturing, and transportation sectors, contributing to a rebound. (Source: web_search_results)

  2020-04-01

• Studies indicate that white-collar workers are more susceptible to technological unemployment caused by AI, contrasting with the blue-collar boom. (Source: wikipedia)

  2024

White-collar worker

A white-collar worker is a person who performs knowledge-based, managerial, or administrative work generally performed in an office or similar setting. White-collar workers include job paths related to government, consulting, academia, accountancy, business and executive management, customer support, design, economics, science, technology, engineering, market research, finance, human resources, operations research, marketing, public relations, real estate, information technology, networking, law, healthcare, architecture, and research and development. In contrast, blue-collar workers perform manual labor or work in skilled trades; pink-collar workers work in care, health care, social work, or teaching; green-collar workers specifically work in the environmental sector; and grey-collar jobs combine manual labor and skilled trades with non-manual or managerial duties. With the emergence of the AI boom, there have been studies released arguing white-collar workers are, as of 2024, more susceptible to technological unemployment caused by AI (which according to those studies has already started) relative to blue, grey or pink-collar workers.

Web Search Results

• The Global Phenomenon of the Blue-Collar Boom

  So, what does this mean for traders and investors? The blue-collar boom could spell opportunity, particularly in industries tied to construction, manufacturing, and renewable energy. As these sectors grow, companies involved in supplying materials, equipment, and services are likely to benefit. Stocks in these industries may not just see growth, but _sustained_ growth as they adapt to rising demand. [...] You may have heard about the “blue-collar boom” recently popping up in various online discussions, including a segment on the _All-In Podcast_ that really caught my attention. It got me thinking about the potential impact of this trend on traders and the financial markets. But what exactly is this blue-collar boom? Simply put, it refers to the increasing demand for skilled labour in manual and technical sectors, a trend that is not confined to the U.S. but is making waves across the globe. [...] ### Conclusion: A Global Shift with Market Potential The blue-collar boom is reshaping labour markets worldwide, opening up new investment opportunities. As infrastructure spending increases and the green energy transition accelerates, this trend will likely have long-term effects on the economy and financial markets. Traders and investors who stay tuned to these developments are well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities this global shift presents.

• Understanding the Blue-Collar Boom: Strategic Workforce Plan

  Image 10: Article content The blue-collar boom presents a unique opportunity for business leaders to drive growth and innovation. By strategically investing in workforce development and embracing technological advancements, companies can navigate the evolving job market and ensure sustainable success. Burn the BoxImage 11: Burn the Box ### Burn the Box #### 2,828 followers + Subscribe Like Image 12: LikeLike Image 13: CelebrateCelebrate Image 14: SupportSupport Image 15: LoveLove [...] As we stand on the cusp of significant workforce changes, business leaders must understand the dynamics of the emerging blue-collar boom and the challenges facing white-collar jobs. Historically, blue-collar jobs have seen cycles of growth and decline, but recent data points to a resurgence in this sector. This shift presents both opportunities and challenges that require strategic foresight and adaptability. Image 4: Article content ### Let's Look at the Numbers Blue-Collar Jobs [...] Early 20th Century: Predominantly manual labor, with blue-collar jobs in manufacturing, mining, and construction constituting 31.2% of total nonfarm employment by 1970. 2000 to 2010: A sharp decline from 24.6 million to 17.8 million jobs due to globalization, automation, and the Great Recession. Recent Trends: A modest rebound post-2010, reaching 19.6 million jobs with significant growth in construction, manufacturing, and transportation, adding 4.5 million jobs since April 2020.

• The Blue Collar Boom: How Rising Wages and Demand ...

  The blue-collar boom is not a passing trend but a long-term realignment of the U.S. economy. For investors, the opportunities lie in small-cap stocks and industrial sectors that are directly addressing the labor market's evolving needs. Companies enabling workforce management, AI-driven productivity, and clean energy transitions are poised to outperform. [...] logo News/ Articles/ Articles Details author avatar Delivering real-time insights and analysis on emerging financial trends and market movements. # The Blue Collar Boom: How Rising Wages and Demand Are Reshaping the U.S. Economy Aime Robot - U.S. blue-collar wages rise 5-6% annually, driven by automation, tight labor markets, and policy support, reshaping industrial value chains. [...] The U.S. economy is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation. At its core lies a surge in blue-collar wage growth and a manufacturing resurgence fueled by automation, workforce innovation, and policy tailwinds. This shift is not merely a cyclical rebound but a structural redefinition of industrial value chains, creating fertile ground for industrial and small-cap stocks aligned with labor market trends and technological progress. ### The Wage Growth Catalyst

• What “Blue Collar Boom”? - Joint Economic Committee

  What “Blue Collar Boom”? In his 2020 State of the Union address, President Trump claimed that his policies have led to a “blue collar boom.” He has said that wages for working-class Americans have surged, thousands of new factories have sprung up, hundreds of thousands of factory jobs have returned from overseas and blue collar job growth has skyrocketed.1 These claims are all highly misleading or flatly untrue. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the promised benefits of the president’s $1.9 [...] significant amount.28 Even before the coronavirus outbreak, the president’s policies for working-class Americans have been a “blue collar bust.” What “Blue Collar Boom”? Page 7 Additional reading U.S. manufacturing was in a mild recession during 2019, a sore spot for the economy, The Washington Post Almost half of all Americans work in low-wage jobs, CBS News Minimum wage increases fueling faster wage growth for those at the bottom, The Washington Post Here's where workers are getting a pay [...] re?ftag=MSFd61514f. What “Blue Collar Boom”? Page 9 15 Julia Beckhusen. “About 13M U.S. Workers Have More Than One Job.” U.S. Census Bureau. June 18, 2019. 16 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Employment Situation—February 2020. Table A-16. Persons not in the labor force and multiple jobholders by sex, not seasonally adjusted. March 6, 2020. 17 Camilo Maldonado. “Price Of College Increasing Almost 8 Times Faster Than Wages.” Forbes. July 24, 2018. 18 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Real

• Igniting a Second Blue-Collar Boom with Tax Cuts in the President's ...

  Americans to put more of their hard-earned paychecks toward raising families, giving back to communities, and investing in future success. This tax relief, along with business tax provisions that increased American competitiveness, helped ignite a blue-collar boom that drove record-high income gains, record-low poverty, and large wage gains, especially for low-wage workers. • Inflation-adjusted (real) overall worker earnings grew nearly twice as fast from January 2017 to February 2020 compared [...] Council of Economic Advisers Igniting a Second Blue-Collar Boom with Tax Cuts in the President’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill President Trump’s tax cuts in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill would continue the historic pro-growth, pro-worker legacy of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that helped unleash record prosperity and lift up left-behind Americans. Origins and Successes of the First Trump Blue-Collar Boom The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act cut taxes across the board for working families, allowing [...] lifted nearly 7 million people out of poverty through 2019—the largest 3-year decline to start any Presidency since the War on Poverty began in 1964. Further Tax Cuts in the One, Big, Beautiful Bill to Ignite a Bigger Blue-Collar Boom Beyond extending key TCJA provisions that unleashed the first Trump blue-collar boom, the One, Big, Beautiful Bill creates incentives to grow America’s domestic manufacturing base and delivers targeted relief to workers most impacted by lingering effects of the