Origin of the term
Some distinctive elements of blue-collar work are the lesser requirements for formal academic education which is needed to succeed in other types of work, with many blue-collar jobs requiring only a High School Diploma or GED. Blue-collar work typically is hourly wage-labor. Usually, the pay for such occupation is lower than that of the white-collar worker, although higher than many entry-level service occupations. Sometimes the work conditions can be strenuous or hazardous.

Blue-collar stereotypes in the United States
With the movement of many Western nations towards service based economy, the number of blue-collar jobs has steadily decreased. Another main reason for the decrease in blue-collar jobs in the United States is due to the technological revolution. Perhaps the biggest reason is that many low-skill manufacturing jobs have been outsourced to developing nations with lower wages. At the same time, some blue-collar workers, predominantly in the building and health care industries, have seen rapidly rising wages due to their requirement of specialized skills.