Final answer:
A person who engages in a great deal of manual work is known as a blue-collar worker. This term contrasts with white-collar workers who perform more mental labor in office settings and pink-collar workers typically in service roles. Blue-collar roles often require specialized training and proficiency with physical tasks or machinery.
Step-by-step explanation:
If your job involves a great deal of manual work, you are a (b) blue-collar worker. Examples of blue-collar jobs include construction work, manufacturing, and mechanics. These are jobs that typically require physical effort and may involve operating machinery or other heavy equipment. In contrast, white-collar jobs are generally associated with office environments where the work is more mental than physical. Pink-collar jobs are often service-oriented roles, such as nursing or teaching. Blue-collar workers often receive an hourly wage rather than a salary and may not require the advanced education that many white-collar jobs do. However, this does not mean blue-collar jobs are unskilled; many require specialized training and a high level of expertise.
Historically, blue-collar jobs have been considered less prestigious than white-collar jobs, although this may not correlate with actual earnings or job satisfaction. Specialized abilities and training are often necessary for operating complicated equipment, and workers in these roles typically need minimal supervision. It is also worth noting that advancements in technology and outsourcing have affected both blue-collar and white-collar jobs.
The definition of job categories based on the color of one's work attire originates from the color of the shirts typically worn by people in different professions, for instance, blue for manual laborers and white for office-bound professionals. The categorization has evolved to symbolize the nature of work rather than the actual attire.