There is plenty of speculation about what jobs might be automated by smart machines. One estimate suggests that countries like the U.S. and Japan would see almost half of today’s jobs disappear. It is tempting to think about robots and some artificial intelligence taking over, but the risks are there. The future of work needs fewer robots and more workers who are learning the skills that the job requires. Technology can change work for the better, but rather than taking workers' jobs, we need to train workers on how to use this new technology.
The people who will be driving the change that is needed for a more diverse work environment will be human resources. It’s becoming more and more apparent that companies are going for greater recognition of the importance of providing the same opportunities to every gender and every race equally. Because of COVID, we have entered an era of remote work environments. Employees and leaders must learn to navigate these new challenges that are related to working in an office. Leadership now more than ever needs to help define the culture of the brand and company for good transparency and better representation of real-world diversity.
Blue-collar jobs are no different than other jobs when it comes to trying to include diversity and set a good culture for their workers. Remote jobs haven’t affected blue-collar jobs as much as others because, typically, blue-collar jobs are manual work. These are jobs that workers aren’t going to easily be able to do from home or a remote location. This does hurt the industry a bit because, with companies going remote, more and more people want the benefit of working from home. This, in turn, means there is more of a need for workers for manual work. Because of this, we are starting to see more and more low income families work these blue collar jobs. Low-income families need the money and are typically not picky when it comes to getting work. This is perfect for an industry such as the construction industry, which shows successful examples of diversity and inclusion. The construction industry has made it a goal to hire more people of color and women in the industry.
Another great example is the manufacturing industry, where many companies within the industry are recruiting disabled individuals. This includes offering support and accommodations to ensure that these individuals are able to perform their jobs smoothly and effectively. With blue-collar jobs recruiting and promoting diversity and inclusion at various levels, businesses are going to be able to create a productive and dynamic workforce. It is about creating a workspace where every worker feels respected, valued, and appreciated for their qualities and contributions.
Boots On The Ground is a staffing agency that specializes in connecting blue collar workers with job opportunities that are well suited to their skills and abilities. We primarily serve two groups of workers, veterans and immigrants. These two groups are known for their hard work ethic and their commitment to getting the job done no matter what the conditions. Both veterans and immigrants bring valuable skills to the table. If you are looking for workers and or are striving to make your workplace more diverse, give us a call today so we can help strive to make the workforce in our state stronger.