what collar employees
DEFINITION of 'White Collar'. A working class that is known for earning high average salaries and not performing manual labor at their jobs. White collar workers historically have been the shirt and tie set, defined by office jobs and not getting their hands dirty (or their white collar dress shirts). This class of worker stands in contrast to blue collar workers, who traditionally wore blue shirts and worked in plants, mills and factories. Next Up.
Blue-collar workers perform labor jobs and typically work with their hands. The skills necessary for blue-collar work vary by occupation. Some blue-collar occupations require highly skilled personnel who are formally trained and certified.