AAt Work

The Power of Practical Work: Celebrating Blue Collar Workers

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Four construction workers in safety gear gathered around a clipboard, discussing plans at a worksite. Faces are blurred for privacy.

Blue collar workers are key contributors to success at large to small businesses and are vital to maintaining infrastructure we rely on. Each year, National Blue Collar Day on Dec. 8 is a time to reflect on their contributions and show support for the blue collar workers in your life and workplace.

Who Are Blue Collar Workers?

Blue collar workers perform manual labor across a wide range of industries, including construction, manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, maintenance, automotive services, and utilities. These jobs include:

  • Welders
  • Truck Drivers
  • Construction Workers
  • Machine Operators
  • Warehouse Workers

Even while performing critical work that impacts our daily lives, blue collar workers often feel undervalued compared to other workers, according to Pew Research Center.

Infographic from Pew Research Center showing survey results on perceived respect for blue-collar workers versus other workers in the U.S. Bars compare two categories: “Not much/No respect at all” (green) and “A great deal/A fair amount of respect” (gold). Key findings: 35% of blue-collar workers say they receive little respect, compared to 19% of other workers; 31% of blue-collar workers say they receive a fair amount of respect versus 47% of other workers. Among blue-collar workers, women report 41% little respect and 28% fair respect; men report 31% little respect and 33% fair respect. Age breakdown: 18–29 (41% little, 30% fair), 30–49 (36% little, 30% fair), 50+ (28% little, 34% fair). Education: some college or less (36% little, 31% fair), bachelor’s or higher (27% little, 32% fair). Survey conducted Oct. 7–13, 2024.

Ways to Celebrate

Whether blue collar workers are your coworkers, direct reports, friends, or loved ones, they deserve recognition and celebration. Consider these ideas to celebrate the blue collar workers in your life:  

  • Cater lunch or send food delivery cards
  • Share genuine gratitude for their work
  • Give a small, thoughtful gift like their favorite candy or energy drink, or a practical job-related item like a new tool, flashlight, gloves, or a cooling towel

National Blue Collar Day History 

The history of recognizing workers goes back nearly 200 years. Check out these interesting facts from NationalToday.com: 

  • 1866: The National Labor Union is established in the U.S. 
  • 1882: The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Sept. 5 with 10,000 workers joining the festivities.  
  • 1924: The term “blue collar” is first used to reference those working manual labor jobs who would typically wear blue denim.
  • 2019: National Blue Collar Day is established to raise awareness about blue collar jobs and their contributions to society. 

If you’re looking for a new role, Express can help.

At Express Employment Professionals, we’re in the business of people. From job seekers to client companies, Express helps people thrive and businesses grow. Our international network of franchises offers localized staffing solutions to the communities they serve across the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, employing 427,000 people globally in 2024 and more than 11 million since its inception. For more information, visit ExpressPros.com.

Photo of three workers in a warehouse wearing high-visibility yellow safety jackets and white hard hats, standing near shelves stacked with cardboard boxes. The top section of the image has a green and blue gradient background with the Express Employment International logo and text: “3rd Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S.” At the bottom, there is a Staffing Industry Analysts (SIA) logo with a red banner labeled “2025” and text: “Largest Industrial Staffing Firms in the US.”

Jessica is a Content Marketing Specialist at Express Employment International creating content for employers, leaders, and about the workplace of today. She is an accomplished former social media professional and award-winning writer. When Jessica isn’t writing about key leadership characteristics or best workplace practices, she’s spending time with her dog and planning her next road trip.

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