Blue-Collar To No collar❓

Recently, I had the privilege of attending the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) Jobs Summit. One trend resonated with me very strongly. Thanks to the Pandemic, many blue-collar workers, are able to pick up tech skills, which help them to leapfrog into a higher, better-paid jobs, popularly known as ‘no collar’ jobs today.

Companies too are showing a willingness to employ such candidates, dropping the college degree requirement. This is a welcome mind shift given that the vast majority of the population the world over, do not have access to a college degree. The numbers would be huge in less developed countries.

Some of these workers may have experience and transferable skills, transcending domains. They may have also picked up or can be easily trained for certain tech skills. During the Pandemic, the world relied heavily on these blue-collar workers to meet daily needs.

This has given them a chance to step back, realise they are underpaid and aspire for upward mobility and economic betterment. However, they may lack the social capital and networks to do it on their own.

The two questions that arise in my mind are:

• Why did this trend not occur before the pandemic and will it continue?
• Is this model replicable in other countries, especially India?

Educators, employers and the Government would do well to consider these perspectives.