There has been a long tradition of classifying workers into two categories: knowledge workers (white-collar) and skill workers (blue-collar). But, is this really how we should be categorizing workers in the current age? Considering that there is an ever-growing presence of complex technologies within our workplaces, I believe it is not unrealistic to assume that these two discrete worker categories are beginning to merge. Consider the primary differences between knowledge and skills.
Knowledge is generally believed to include conceptual understanding. Concepts build in our minds from simple to complex and tend to become more abstract as we learn more about them. Hence, we accumulate more complex knowledge as we attend additional years of school and university. Unfortunately, however, this is where the knowledge tends to remain. Conceptual knowledge stays in our minds unless we “do something with it”, and that is where skills come in. Knowledge that is not utilized in a skilled action has little value. As the world becomes more complex, while also including immense knowledge repositories such as AI, this knowledge must be utilized in the best ways possible. In other words, knowledge becomes the foundation for skills, but skills allow us to sufficiently utilize the knowledge in the most beneficial and purposeful manner.
Skills tend to be procedural. They require that we put together bits of knowledge into a sequence in order to complete the skill. Our familiarity with skills tend to comprise of commonly known ones such as playing a musical instrument or assembling a part on a factory line. These skills, based mostly on rudimentary knowledge, generally require practice to memorize the procedural steps required to complete the skill. However, as the times are changing, assembling a part on an automated assembly line might now require a large amount of conceptual knowledge in order to perform the skill correctly. There may be mathematical measurements or quality assurance measures required that must be performed by the skilled technician in order to complete the skill.
So, why is it important to note that the nature of “white collar” work and “blue collar” work may be changing. It is important because if these different work classifications are changing, then the manner to which we educate or train for them must also change. Generally, white collar workers tend to go to school for many years to gain the necessary knowledge first before they learn the necessary skills to perform the tasks of their jobs. Blue collar workers tend to go to less years of school initially but are required to continue learning (such as through additional training and certifications) as they go. This allows them time to practice the skills while they are learning them.
With the amount of technical skills required to perform most white-collar skills increasing, there needs to be more time to practice skills as opposed to solely learning knowledge in the classroom in order for white collar workers to be effective in their jobs. There needs to be additional opportunities for apprenticeships, internships, and project-based learning provided to college students so they can practice necessary skills needed to function in the workforce. Consequently, blue-collar workers need more time in the classroom than in the past to learn the complex knowledge required to perform skilled work in today’s automated workplace. In other words, both work types require a merging of the learning of knowledge and skills.