Employment Blue-collar worker supervisors held about 1,757,000 jobs in 1992. One of every 8 worked in the construction industry and 1 of every 9 worked in wholesale and retail trade establishments. Others were employed in public utilities, repair shops, transportation, and government agencies. Employment is distributed in much the same way as the population, and jobs are located in all cities and towns. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement When choosing supervisors, employers generally look for experience, job knowledge, organizational skills, and leadership qualities.
Employers emphasize the ability to motivate employees, maintain high morale and command respect.
In addition, employers desire well rounded applicants who are able to deal with different situations and different types of people. Communication and interpersonal skills are extremely important to most employers. Although completion of high school is often the minimum educational requirement for supervisors, and many supervisors still rise through the ranks, employers are increasingly hiring college graduates with technical degrees. While work experience creates the advantage of knowing how jobs should be done and what problems may arise, individuals without advanced education need further technical and administrative training. Large companies generally offer better opportunities than smaller companies for promotion to blue-collar worker supervisory positions.