In the book "Night" by Elie Wiesel, it was generally safer for the prisoners to identify themselves as skilled workers rather than as average workers. This is because the Nazis often used prisoners for forced labor, and those with valuable skills were often treated better and given better working conditions than those without such skills.
Skilled workers were often assigned to tasks that required specialized knowledge or training, such as carpentry, metalworking, or electrical work. These tasks were often indoors and away from the harsh weather conditions and physical labor that average workers were assigned to. Skilled workers were also given better food rations and living conditions, as the Nazis recognized the value of their skills and wanted to keep them healthy and productive.
In contrast, average workers were often assigned to grueling physical labor, such as digging ditches, laying railroads, or moving heavy objects. These tasks were often outdoors and exposed to the elements, and the workers were given inadequate food rations and living conditions. Average workers were also more likely to be subjected to physical abuse and punishment from the guards.
Therefore, identifying oneself as a skilled worker was often seen as a way to improve one's chances of survival in the concentration camps. However, even skilled workers were not immune to the brutality and horrors of the camps, and many still perished alongside their fellow prisoners.