Hi Vis Green: The Unofficial Battle Color of the Blue Collar Worker

Hi Vis Green: The Unofficial Battle Color of the Blue Collar Worker

At HiVis Supply, we spend our days working with blue collar people and outfitting them with hi vis workwear for their toughest jobs. We see firsthand that people in the trades are some of the hardest working around, and we also see that they’re people who won’t settle for less. That’s why we think it’s so important that people are proudly advocating for trades education as a source of steady, good-paying jobs and that blue collar workers are speaking out and demanding the respect that they deserve. Along with the surge in the pride of the blue collar trades, there has also been a definitive shift from the traditional blue work shirts to high visibility green.

Part of how we help our customers find the best workwear is by understanding what blue collar workers need on the job. Then, we make sure that our hi vis workwear matches those needs and helps make workers’ lives safer and easier. Here, we’ll talk about the history of blue collar work, the bright future of the skilled trades — and, of course, the very bright clothing that tradespeople need to stay safe and seen. 

What Color Is Your Collar? 

“Blue collar” work is work that requires physical labor, most often in the trades like construction, plumbing, transportation, mining and others. Most blue collar jobs don’t require a college degree, but they do require a demanding on-the-job training period. The pay for a blue collar job can be salaried, but it’s often hourly. The opposite of blue collar is “white collar” work. Generally, this means desk work and office jobs, whether that’s in finance, marketing, insurance, government or any of the many other sectors that require little or no physical labor. White collar jobs mostly require a four-year bachelor’s degree or higher, and they’re usually salaried rather than hourly. 

Our world needs labor from all kinds of workers to keep the wheels turning. Every worker, white collar or blue collar, has their own role to play. But without blue collar labor, white collar laborers wouldn’t have little things like lights, running water, heat or buildings. 

The History of Blue Collar Jobs

The term “blue collar” refers to the work shirts, jean jackets or overalls that people have historically worn in jobs that require manual labor. These clothes hide dirt better, thanks to their darker colors, and their tough designs and fabrics make them suitable for manual labor. “White collar” refers to the white button-down shirts often worn at office jobs. 

“Blue collar” first came into use around the 1930s, when the divide between manual and office labor was getting more pronounced in the industrialized world. But for a long time, blue collar jobs in industries like manufacturing were the backbone of the U.S. economy. Whole generations fed their families and made middle-class lives for themselves on manual labor jobs.  

As the services sector grew throughout the 20th century, the U.S. education system increasingly began pushing a four-year college education and a white collar job as the standard. While it’s never a bad idea to encourage education, these well-intentioned efforts sometimes gave people the unfounded idea that blue collar trades were dead-end jobs or somehow less necessary. 

But even as blue collar jobs were often denied the respect they deserved, workers kept on working. They kept on repairing sewer lines, and operating die presses, and digging foundations and installing electrical systems. In other words, they did what blue collar workers have always done and got the job done, no matter the conditions. 

Taking Pride in the Trades

Trade education and recruiting has seen a resurgence in recent years. For one thing, we’ve seen that office jobs aren’t as safe from automation as people once thought, and that a four-year degree doesn’t guarantee success. With all of the opportunities for blue collar trade work, it’s no wonder that lots of young people are choosing to forgo high-debt colleges and choose a career in the trades.

Employers have opened their eyes to the value of blue collar work as well, particularly with the tight labor market. Plenty of organizations are now looking for ways to recruit and retain more blue collar workers. This often includes paying for workers’ education in the trades, as well as offering generous benefits packages for workers and their families. 

Here are four reasons why skilled trades are a great bet for workers, and why the trades are a source of pride for the millions of people who work in them: 

1. Skilled trades are in high demand. 

Nearly every skilled trade has a shortage of workers right now. Older trades workers are moving on to enjoy their well-earned retirement, but there’s still not enough younger workers replacing them. All kinds of organizations are actively recruiting skilled trades apprentices now, which offers newcomers to the field a great opportunity. On top of that, many trades are resistant to automation. 

Skilled trades pay well.

2. Skilled trades pay well.

Blue collar workers with the right experience and certifications in the skilled trades can make a very comfortable living. While annual pay varies a lot by trade and by location, most trades can easily provide at least the median U.S. income of $51,480 with a few years of experience. Here are some median incomes for skilled blue collar trades, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics: 

3. Skilled trades offer satisfying and necessary work.

Most people like to feel like they’re making a difference when they go to work. With a job in the skilled trades, you can go one better and actually see the difference you make. Whether it’s a sealed pipe leak or a brand new home going up, you’ll create a tangible difference through the effort you put forward. That’s probably a big part of why a recent study found that 83 percent of tradespeople surveyed were satisfied with their work. 

4. Skilled trades offer opportunities to learn useful skills with minimal debt.

For people who like to use their brains and their hands, trade school or apprenticeships are a great way to learn relevant skills without taking on tons of debt. Plus, many apprenticeship and certificate programs only take one or two years to complete, and a lot of businesses will even pay for workers’ schooling and apprenticeships! Talk about a win-win deal. 

man working on power lines

The Changing Face of Blue Collar Work

Blue collar workers have historically been mostly men. But, increasingly, women are showing everybody that they mean business on the job site. And while there’s still a long way to go in creating gender equality in the trades, the women who work in blue collar jobs now are too busy getting stuff done to let it slow them down. 

Lots of great organizations exist today to help bring women into the trades and provide mentorship. And as women build power within the blue collar industries, they’re also demanding better women’s workwear that’s designed to fit their bodies and help them stay comfortable all day. 

But it’s not just the demographics of blue collar work that are changing. Trade jobs themselves are taking on different forms as technology evolves. Many trade jobs, especially in the manufacturing field, increasingly need tech skills to work with new automated tools. Blue collar workers know that now is no time to live in the past. They’re taking on the jobs of the future — and, to do it, they need hi vis workwear that meets the toughest standards of today’s job sites. 

Hi Vis Green Is the New Blue: Why Fluorescent Workwear Is a Blue Collar Icon

High visibility workwear has been a staple of the blue collar trades for decades. Workwear companies first started making their garments with reflective tapes and fluorescent hi vis safety colors like hi vis green around the late-20th century. The visibility enhancing properties of these innovations made it possible to keep workers safer on the job. 

Fast forward to today, and hi vis apparel is a must-have for tons of different blue collar jobs, from heavy equipment operators to parking lot attendants to line workers. Workers rely on their hi vis gear to keep them visible while they’re working, but they also need workwear that includes built-in comfort features for long days. With blue collar workers wearing hi vis workwear every day, it’s not surprising that some people started sporting theirs with pride! Blue collar workers today sometimes wear their hi vis clothing outside of work, both because they’re proud to rock their hi vis gear and because comfy and stylish options like hi vis polo shirts are now widely available. 

Shop All of Our Hi Vis Workwear

Hi Vis Workwear for Hard-Working People

It’s a point of pride for us to give blue collar workers the safe, comfy and stylish hi vis workwear that they deserve. Check out 10 of our styles that go above and beyond for your comfort and safety.

Kishigo S5002/S5003 Black Series Class 2 Surveyors Safety Vest

1. Kishigo S5002/S5003 Black Series Class 2 Surveyors Safety Vest: A reliable safety vest is a must for any tradesperson, and this one comes equipped with tons of surveyor style pockets for storing your stuff, plus a smart black bottom trim to hide dirt.  

Kishigo S5021/S5022 HiVis Class 2 Women’s Black Series Heavy Duty Surveyors Safety Vest

2. Kishigo S5021/S5022 HiVis Class 2 Women’s Black Series Heavy Duty Surveyors Safety Vest: Working women will love this heavy duty ANSI Class 2 surveyor vest with the performance features of Kishigo’s Black series, including black trim and Ultra-Cool polyester fabric. 

GSS Safety 5013 Class 3 HiVis Contrast Long Sleeve Safety T-Shirt

3. GSS Safety 5013 Class 3 HiVis Contrast Long Sleeve Safety T-Shirt: Find the perfect combo of real comfort, extreme visibility and an affordable price with this ANSI Class 3 high contrast t-shirt. 

GSS Safety 7505/7506 Onyx Series Class 3 HiVis Performance Safety Wind Shirt

4. GSS Safety 7505/7506 Onyx Series Class 3 HiVis Performance Safety Wind Shirt: This wind shirt sports an ultra-breathable moisture wicking material, but it also provides UV protection and ANSI Class 3 performance, thanks to its advanced fabric and hi vis design. 

Tough Duck ST12 Class 3 HiVis Segmented Short Sleeve T-Shirt

5. Tough Duck ST12 Class 3 HiVis Segmented Short Sleeve T-Shirt: Enjoy comfort and breathability from an ANSI Class 3 work t-shirt, all at a cost-effective price point that makes it a perfect choice for no-nonsense performance. 

Work King SJ16 Class 3 Thermal Lined Anti-Pill Polyester Hoodie

6. Work King SJ16 Class 3 Thermal Lined Anti-Pill Polyester Hoodie: Blue collar workers need high-mobility protection from the cold, and that’s exactly what this ANSI Class 3 thermal lined hoodie is here to provide. 

Kishigo JS137/JS138 Black Series Class 3 Hi Vis Soft-Shell Jacket

7. Kishigo JS137/JS138 Black Series Class 3 Hi Vis Soft-Shell Jacket: Discover a high performance cold weather jacket that’s built for manual labor, with ANSI Class 3 compliant visibility and a high contrast reflective piping design. 

GSS Safety 8007 Contrast Series Class 3 HiVis Quilted Safety Jacket

8. GSS Safety 8007 Contrast Series Class 3 HiVis Quilted Safety Jacket: An essential everyperson jacket that packs a 5 oz. poly fill liner and a quilted taffeta shell for superior insulation, plus ANSI Class 3 compliance. 

Tough Duck SJ35 Class 3 HiVis Ripstop Safety Rain Jacket

9. Tough Duck SJ35 Class 3 HiVis Ripstop Safety Rain Jacket: For the tough times when you’ve gotta work in the rain, this ANSI Class 3 safety jacket has a polyurethane coated 300 denier outer shell for great waterproofing and abrasion resistance. 

Onyx Series Class 3 Rain Coat

10. Onyx Series Class 3 Rain Coat: Finally, feast your eyes on one of our most rugged rain coats for the modern worker, with ANSI Class 3 compliance, Teflon-treated waterproof fabric, and must-have rain features like sealed seams and storm flaps. 

It’s an exciting time to be in the trades, and HiVis Supply is excited to be a part of the blue collar (or maybe the hi vis green collar) resurgence! Working on outfitting your crew or yourself? Check out HiVis Supply’s full range of hi vis workwear, including our most popular reflective vests. Or, see our easy custom workwear imprinting options to find out how easy it can be to customize your perfect workwear solution. 

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