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Blue-Collar Staffing Trends and Industry Evolution

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As technology and modern ideals seep into every industry and workplace, it may seem like blue-collar industries have largely been overlooked. It can be easy to imagine that blue-collar jobs stay relatively rooted in tradition and “old ways.” However, tech integration, a move toward specialization, the influence of remote work, a growing interest in the trades from Generation Z, and DEI (diversity, equality, and inclusion) initiatives have profoundly impacted the blue-collar sector in recent years.

Jason Lamonica, COO of Spec on the Job — a staffing service specializing in blue-collar industries — has seen the shift first-hand and is optimistic about the near future. “A generic, ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to the workforce will result in unhappy employees,” Lamonica says. He sees the trends emerging within blue-collar staffing and the industry as a whole pivoting away from the “one-size-fits-all” approach and moving toward a personalized industry evolution.

Tech integration reshaping the traditional

While modern technology has been a part of blue-collar jobs for decades, there is a sense that blue-collar work is still rooted in traditional, hands-on work that eschews too much tech intervention. Yet automation, digital advancements, and changes in how blue-collar workers are recruited and trained are reshaping the traditional work landscape.

Since the advent of the internet, how we interact with one another, find work, educate ourselves, and apply technology to our jobs has radically changed. Lamonica has not only seen it within the blue-collar industries for which he recruits but also within his role with Spec on the Job.

“The smartphone has truly changed the work we do in recruiting,” explains Lamonica. “Both employers and employees have come to rely on it for making connections. It truly has been amazing to watch it develop.”

The rise of smartphones has not been the only game changer for blue-collar work. E-commerce and AI technology have changed how we sell goods, ship items, and reshape logistics — which has had a massive impact on the trucking industry and supply chain. Automation has also been a significant factor in many blue-collar positions, especially within manufacturing. Robotics and machine learning have allowed companies to be more efficient in not only their processes but also their training.

While technology is certainly disrupting the blue-collar work landscape, fears of technology replacing humans altogether have been unfounded. Automation may have taken over some of the more repetitive tasks within blue-collar jobs, but we have entered a new era of the skilled blue-collar worker by integrating technology knowledge and traditional know-how into this new world of work.

Skilled labor and specialized trades

A recent survey showed that 1 in 6 Gen Z respondents intended to enter a blue-collar industry. Lamonica understands the interest — it was one he had as well. “I started in marketing, but I eventually realized that wasn’t going to be a long-term career choice for me,” he explains. “I had always been interested in the skilled trades, so that’s where I went.”

A past stigma surrounding blue-collar work seems to be lifting as trades workers prove these positions can not only require a significant amount of skill but can also be lucrative. People who choose to enter a specialized trade, such as masonry or electric work, often undergo extensive training and a required apprenticeship. Many also gather industry certifications to bolster their resumes in an increasingly competitive market.

Many of today’s blue-collar workers are demanding a change in how they are trained, shifting to e-learning and quickly adapting to the influx of tech advancements in their respective fields. The new generation of blue-collar workers understands the value of specialization, multifaceted education, and mentorships with other skilled workers.

The impact of remote work

One of the most notable changes in technology and the workplace has been the uptick in remote work, especially since the pandemic. “These days, employees are looking for flexibility in their workplace,” Lamonica notes. “Most understand that blue-collar jobs tend to be less flexible than white-collar jobs, but employees still expect some level of flexibility and autonomy within their careers.”

This flexibility that has come with the remote work revolution has its place in the blue-collar sector. While most blue-collar jobs (particularly those in construction or manufacturing) would not seem to work with the rise of remote work, evidence suggests that remote work does exist for some blue-collar positions — especially within the service industry.

The most significant impact remote work seems to have had on blue-collar workers, however, is giving them insight into how they can gain work with more flexibility, autonomy, and overall job satisfaction. The influx of remote workers has paved the way for these critical conversations in all industries.

Diversity and inclusion initiatives

The impact of a greater focus on DEI in the workplace has been felt within most jobs, whether one’s job is initiating DEI initiatives or not. Working diligently toward the creation of a diverse and inclusive workplace benefits everyone, from leadership down to the workers doing the day-to-day tasks. DEI initiatives create a collaborative environment that fosters innovation and better productivity.

Many blue-collar jobs, especially those in construction and manufacturing, have a way to go before they reach true equity. Currently, women are underrepresented by 80% in blue-collar positions. While blue-collar jobs have historically been the domain of white middle-class men, there is a push to bring more people of color and women into the skilled crafts. When employers recognize disparity and work toward a more diverse and equitable workforce, it elevates the industries as a whole.

Staffing within blue-collar jobs is trending towards better training, a more technology-informed outreach for recruitment and onboarding, and more autonomy and flexibility for skilled and certified workers. It is a new era in work, and leaders and recruiters in the blue-collar sector are recognizing the benefits of change and blazing a pathway toward a more informed and skilled workforce.

Rosario is from New York and has worked with leading companies like Microsoft as a copy-writer in the past. Now he spends his time writing for readers of BigtimeDaily.com

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Empowering Minority Women to Pursue Leadership in Business and Law

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There is a familiar saying that a “rising tide lifts all boats,” and there are professionals among us who truly take that concept to heart. Attorney Leah Wise is one of them. From an early age, Wise knew that whatever she wanted to do in life as a career, helping people had to be a primary motivation. 

On her way up as founder of the first Latina-owned law firm in South Texas dedicated 100% to personal injury law, Wise acknowledges that she stood on the shoulders of some great mentors. Now, she is paying it forward through a series of initiatives and programs dedicated to helping minority women pursue their dreams. 

A love for law and justice

While working for a state senator prior to law school, Wise developed a deep love for making a difference in people’s lives. “I learned that one person can truly have an impact on the world,” she recalls. This lesson led her to pursue law as a career, and she soon found herself in the position of a trailblazer as a woman and a Latina. 

Unlike most young upstart lawyers who battle it out for positions at established firms after law school, Wise knew she wanted to set out on her own immediately. She started her own personal injury firm right out of law school and got to work making a name for herself in the Texas law community, an act of rebellion that flew in the face of norms within the law field and stood as a testament to the Wise’s resilience. It’s an approach Wise hopes to help other minority women embrace — go after what you want, no matter what stands in your way.

Giving back 

Wise has not stopped wanting to help others since the days of working in the senator’s office. She has made a point to make philanthropy a significant part of her brand, focusing on building the confidence and careers of minority women, especially Latinas. 

Wise created a non-profit organization called the Wise Women Foundation to address all of the ways she wanted to empower and inspire women seeking careers, especially those looking to make their mark in male-centered fields like Wise. The Wise Women Foundation helps empower minority women through education, mentorships, and resources that can often be scarce in minority communities. 

“The foundation is about offering women options,” says Wise. Through the various resources provided by the Wise Women Foundation, women can better reach their full potential and overcome obstacles that are often placed in the way of minority women. 

Part of Wise’s main focus through the Wise Women Foundation is helping women start their own businesses — as she did — especially within the legal industry. A serial entrepreneur herself, Wise knows the value of steering one’s own ship. 

Wise has other beneficial initiatives as well, including the Leah Wise Latina Student Hardship Fund at her alma mater, St. Mary’s University School of Law, which offers $50,000 to the law school to aid Latina law students. She also hosts a CrashGal Mentorship Group for aspiring Latina lawyers and has raised funds for Teach for America, the Family Crisis Center of the Rio Grande Valley, and toward distributing tampons and pads in low-income schools in the Rio Grande Valley. 

Using social connection to inspire others

Since starting her law firm, Wise has known the value of social media. As one of Texas’s first personal injury lawyers to truly take advantage of social media marketing, she knows how powerful social connections can be. As the co-founder of the social media segment “Latina Feature Friday” and the host of “Coffee With CrashGal,” Wise highlights minority-owned businesses and gives advice in a relatable and authentic way. 

“The business world is so competitive,” Wise shares. “Everything I do is in an attempt to lift people up and encourage them.” 

Changing the business landscape 

Through every philanthropic project Wise takes on, Wise is helping change the business landscape for minority women. She has shown the value of being a multifaceted entrepreneur not only through her philanthropic works and her law firm but also through her other ventures, such as CrashGal Couture and her real estate business. 

Recently, Wise purchased a building to house her empire — and made a statement about the strength and resilience of women in the process. The building was a former strip club, and Wise is dedicated to turning it into a safe space for building dreams, serving clients who are going through difficult moments, and empowering minority women in business. 

Wise knows that with a helping hand, minority women can do extraordinary things — in business and in life. Whether it’s helping her clients get justice during a personal injury case or helping disadvantaged college students access money toward a law degree, Wise is making an indelible mark on her community.

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