Express Employment Professionals has released a new national survey of U.S. blue collar workers examining the State of Blue Collar America, including how 61 percent agree the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a new appreciation for their industries.
The survey, conducted by The Harris Poll, reveals America’s blue collar workforce feels they are more respected and appreciated, and even more in demand than before the pandemic.
The pandemic may have made blue collar workers feel more appreciated, but it has also added new stresses and pressures to their jobs—especially as they feel the effects of a strained labor force, as nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of blue collar workers say their work-life balance has been impacted by the current labor shortage. More blue collar workers than white collar workers (60 percent) say this. Nearly two in five (37 percent) blue collar workers experienced a heavier workload due to staff shortages.
But beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, blue collar industries are desperate for workers and luckily, nearly three-quarters of blue collar workers (74 percent) believe there is a good career path in their line of work.
“Blue collar workers have always been the backbone of the American economy, and the COVID-19 pandemic provided a stark reminder for anyone who had forgotten that,” Express Employment International CEO Bill Stoller states. “As the economy recovers, blue collar job prospects are more numerous and lucrative than at any time in recent history. Take blue collar workers’ word for it—now is the time to pursue one of these careers.”