Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Mark C. Perna is a generational expert who covers education & careers. The skilled trades have a branding problem—but ...

Upon graduation, the majority of young people do not instantly consider blue-collar careers as something that is a desirable career achievement. However, blue-collar roles (so dubbed because workers ...

Blue-collar jobs are in. Two in 5 Gen Zers are pursuing blue-collar work, rejecting the collegiate path and learning trades, according to a May 2025 survey of 1,434 young adults by Resume Builder.

Coined in the early 1900s, the term "blue-collar" alludes to the blue denim uniforms of manual laborers of the time. Traditionally, blue-collar workers share some common traits in terms of where they ...

After a decade riddled with layoffs, burnout, and unsuccessful interviews, Donald Malone, 65, decided it was time to take a break from the corporate world as a consultant. Finding alternative income ...

In the past, a college education guaranteed a well-paying job. Unfortunately, that's no longer the case. Now, people spend thousands of dollars on higher education, only to make minimum wage or end up ...

Blue-collar workers have been at or near the center of much public discussion in recent years, from their political leanings to their wages and cultural impact. A recent Pew Research Center survey ...