Job Gains in Blue Collar Sectors Still Well Below Pre-recession Levels

Blue collar accounted for 13.8% of jobs in April 2018, but in January 2007, they accounted for 16.3%

May 21, 2018

Center for Economic and Policy Research

Employment rose in mining and logging (combined), manufacturing and construction by 49,000 jobs in April, an increase of 0.2%, according to a new analysis released by the Center for Economic and Policy Research.

As the graph clearly illustrates, blue collar jobs are still far from reaching prerecession levels. Together, these jobs accounted for 13.8% of jobs in April, 2018. But in January, 2007, before the recession, these jobs accounted for 16.3% of jobs.

For a detailed analysis of these sectors by state, region and the nation, visit the Blue Collar Jobs Tracker.

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