Blue-collar businesses form the foundation of the U.S. economy, providing essential services in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and transportation. But how large is the blue-collar sector? In this post, we’ll explore the evolution of blue-collar businesses in the United States and the number of people they employ, highlighting how important they are to our economy and National pride.
In order to understand blue-collar businesses and their breadth, we have to know how they’re defined and how they evolved. What exactly is a blue-collar business? Traditionally, blue-collar workers are employed in manual labor in industries such as construction, manufacturing, logistics, and transportation, maintenance and repair services, and agriculture and mining. These are just a few of the many opportunities that still exist today for blue-collar workers.
The blue-collar worker has been a central figure in the building of America, contributing to its economic growth, infrastructure, and societal progress for generations. Since the 1880s, before the term “Blue Collar” was even a term, blue-collar women and men have come to represent not just a type of job but a set of values centered on hard work, perseverance, and craftsmanship. In this blog post, we’ll go back in time to discover the evolution of the blue-collar worker and the work ethic that helped shape this country.
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The period between 1880 and 1910 was a time of rapid industrial growth in the United States. This era saw the rise of factories, railroads, and steel production, transforming the United States into an industrial powerhouse.
For the blue-collar worker, this was the beginning of a new chapter marked by hard physical labor, long hours, and the fight for better working conditions. However, it was also a time when workers began to develop a strong sense of self-respect and dignity in their roles. They saw themselves as vital contributors to America’s growth, fostering a deep sense of American pride.
To better understand how this came about, we have to explore the origins of the blue-collar worker, the formation of early labor unions, and the values that defined the blue-collar work ethic during this time and beyond.
The late 19th century marked the height of the Industrial Revolution, transforming the U.S. into an industrial superpower. Blue-collar workers labored in factories, railroads, and steel mills, producing the infrastructure that powered America’s economic expansion. The U.S. railroad network exploded during this period, employing blue-collar workers and a means to transport goods across the country. Steel mills in cities throughout the middle of the country, like Pittsburgh, became central to the Industrial Revolution, with blue-collar workers handling the dangerous tasks of steelmaking. Mechanized factories became the backbone of industrial cities, employing thousands of workers in manufacturing jobs, from textiles to machinery.
For many, blue-collar jobs offered a way to provide for their families, although the work was often grueling. Long hours, low wages, and hazardous conditions were standard, but blue-collar workers took pride in their roles, seeing themselves as the builders of America’s future.
As industrialization boomed, so did labor unrest. Workers began organizing in response to long hours, dangerous conditions, and low wages. Early labor unions began to fight for workers’ rights to improve their pay and working conditions. Key milestones include The Knights of Labor (founded in 1869) and the American Federation of Labor (AFL) (founded in 1886), which advocated for workers’ rights, focusing on fair pay and improved working conditions. Though formed before the 1880s, the Knights of Labor grew in influence during this period, advocating for an eight-hour workday and better wages for all workers, regardless of skill.
Samuel Gompers founded the AFL, which focused on securing higher wages, shorter hours, and safer working conditions for skilled laborers. The AFL became one of the most influential labor unions in the country. Workers’ protests became more common in the late 1800s as they sought fairer treatment. Events like the Haymarket Affair of 1886 and the Homestead Strike of 1892 showcased the growing tension between workers and industrialists, highlighting the blue-collar worker’s determination to fight for a better life.
During this period, the blue-collar worker was seen as the embodiment of the American spirit: resilient, hardworking, and willing to endure harsh conditions to achieve a better future. Factory and railroad workers often labored in challenging and unsafe environments, but they did so because they took pride in their role as builders of America’s new industrial landscape.
Many blue-collar workers’ labor was tied to the promise of the American Dream. They believed that through hard work and dedication, they could provide a better life for their families and secure a better future for their children. For many, this was a dream realized. Blue-collar workers of this era were known for their loyalty to their jobs and their pride in their craftsmanship. Whether building railroads or working in steel mills, these workers, through grit and determination, realized the quality of their output, seeing their labor as essential to the growth of the United States.
The period between 1880 and 1910 was a transformative time for the American workforce. Blue-collar workers became the backbone of the country’s industrial growth, contributing to the construction of railroads, factories, and cities. Despite their challenges, these workers established a work ethic grounded in hard labor, pride, and perseverance, values that continue to define the blue-collar worker today.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the U.S. workforce was primarily dominated by manual labor, with a significant portion of the population engaged in industries like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, railroads, and construction. By the early 20th century, around 38% of the U.S. workforce was employed in agriculture, which was still considered manual, blue-collar work. Manufacturing and mechanical industries employed roughly 30% of the workforce by 1910 as industrialization expanded. Railroads, mining, construction, and related industries also represented a significant portion of employment, though estimates do vary.
It’s reasonable to estimate that around 60-70% of the workforce during this period could be considered “blue-collar,” as manual labor dominated urban and rural employment sectors. Industrial jobs increased rapidly in cities, while rural areas relied heavily on agriculture, which required intensive manual labor.
Our next posts will explore the Expansion of Blue-Collar Industries and the Great Depression.
