“Working class” refers to a socioeconomic group comprising individuals employed in jobs that typically provide lower pay, require limited skills, or involve physical labor. These roles generally have minimal educational requirements. Often, the unemployed or recipients of social welfare support are also included in this class.
Key Takeaways
- The term describes a social class identified by jobs that offer low pay and require limited skill.
- Working-class roles usually have fewer educational prerequisites.
- Most contemporary working-class jobs are found within the service sector, encompassing clerical roles, retail sales, and low-skill manual labor positions.
Why the Working Class Matters
While traditionally associated with manual labor and lower education levels, blue-collar workers are essential to every economy. In the United States, economists often define “working class” as adults without a college degree. Paradoxically, many within this group also align with middle-class indicators.
As noted by influential sociologists, the working class is the most populous class in America, comprising between 30% and 35% of the overall population. According to sociologist Dennis Gilbert, this group includes individuals situated between the 25th and 55th societal percentiles.
Prominent figures like Karl Marx described the working class or “proletariat,” as vital contributors to a society’s wealth through their labor power and skills. This group includes both blue and white-collar workers, excluding only those who derive income predominantly from business ownership and the work of others.
Types of Working Class Jobs
The landscape of working-class jobs has evolved dramatically since the mid-20th century. Factory and industrial roles in America have diminished, making way for opportunities primarily in the service sector. Common working-class jobs include:
- Clerical roles
- Positions in the food industry
- Retail sales jobs
- Lower-skilled manual labor jobs
- Entry-level white-collar positions
Many of these occupations offer less than $15 per hour and may lack health benefits. The working-class demographic in America has diversified over time: white Americans make up about 59% of this group, a reduction from 88% in the 1940s. African-Americans and Hispanics have significantly increased their representation within the working class, at 14% and 21% respectively.
A Historical Perspective: The Working Class in Europe
During feudal times in Europe, the laboring class—encompassing an array of professions from lawyers to craftsmen and peasants—was non-aristocratic and non-religious elite. Similar structures existed globally in pre-industrial societies.
A turning point came when peasants revolted during the German Peasants’ War, challenging the idea of a divinely ordained social order. The Enlightenment of the late 18th century further unsettled these traditional hierarchies, as societal changes could no longer support the concept of an immutable, God-ordained social structure. Some elites tried to maintain domination over the laboring classes by asserting moral and ethical superiority.
In conclusion, the working class serves as the backbone of society through vital contributions across various industries and sectors. Understanding their role is crucial for appreciating the overall socioeconomic fabric.
Related Terms: blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, economic sectors, proletariat, social class.
References
- Joseph Kahl. “The American Class Structure”. Rinehart, 1957.
- Center for American Progress Action Fund. “What Everyone Should Know About America’s Diverse Working Class”.
