Is Your Job White, Blue, Pink or Green-Collared?

About This Quiz

While politicians tend to only notice white- and blue-collared workers, there are actually four categories in that paradigm: white-, blue-, pink- and green-collared. The white-collared workers are the middle and management class. They typically have college degrees and they are fairly immune to automation and, at higher levels, most kinds of outsourcing. They make the most money and are likely to enjoy benefits and safe workplaces.

Blue-collar workers are who politicians mean by "the working class": miners, farmers, factory workers, etc. They used to make great money, but outsourcing and automation have taken a toll, slicing their numbers and pay. Happily, those able to adapt continuously do well, though it's often more dangerous work. They're now a minority of the working class, with the majority being politically barely visible: pink-collar workers. These are workers in the caring professions, such as caregivers, nurses, teachers, nannies, and cleaners. Some of these jobs are every bit as physical, dirty and dangerous as blue-collar work, but they are typically low paid, even when they require an advanced degree. In recent years, pink collar workers have been organizing, and solidarity and cooperation between these and blue-collared workers are starting to change the conversation.

The last group is green-collared workers. These workers are a new breed, working in the transformation to a green economy. They are a mix of knowledge workers (e.g., resiliency project manager, carbon capture engineer), manual workers (e.g., solar panel installer, wind turbine tech), and carers (e.g., community organizer). This means their green collars have blue, white and pink tips, making this a great landing pad for displaced blue-collar workers who need a job that can't be outsourced, pink-collar workers who want some darn recognition and livable pay, and white-collar workers who want to do something truly valuable.

What color is your collar? Let's find out!