Georgia’s labor market is experiencing growth across both blue-collar and white-collar industries, but the hiring challenges and strategies for each are vastly different. As demand increases in construction, warehousing, finance, and engineering, companies across the state must adapt their recruitment efforts to compete for talent. Understanding the key differences in job types, workforce needs, and hiring approaches can help employers fill open roles faster and more effectively.
Whether you’re trying to attract skilled tradespeople or source high-level professionals, here’s what you need to know about Georgia’s job market and how to close your hiring gaps.
Georgia Labor Projections Through 2032
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, blue-collar job growth in the following industries is expected between 2023 and 2025:
- Specialty trade contractor employment: 5,250 jobs
- Transportation equipment manufacturing: 4,010 jobs
- Warehousing and storage: 3,680 jobs
Georgia’s Hot Careers to 2032 lists significant openings for the following white-collar jobs:
- Accountants and Auditors: 4,250
- Management analysts: 3,340
- Human Resources Specialists: 2,790
- Financial Managers: 1,890
- Sales managers: 1,390
- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents: 1,390
- Financial and Investment Analysts: 680
- Industrial Engineers: 610
- Human Resources Managers: 550
Blue-Collar Jobs
Blue-collar jobs involve manual labor, skilled trades, and working with hands and tools:
- Blue-collar jobs are physically taxing and potentially dangerous.
- Examples include electricians, plumbers, carpenters, welders, HVAC technicians, and factory workers.
- A high school education, apprenticeships, certifications, and training are required to develop specialized skills.
- Work environments include factories, warehouses, construction sites, outdoors, and in homes.
- According to the S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), blue-collar wages for production, installation, maintenance, repair, transportation, and material moving occupations were $14-$47 per hour in 2023.
White-Collar Jobs
White-collar jobs involve completing administrative or managerial tasks:
- White-collar jobs involve working at a desk.
- Examples include accountants, wealth managers, office managers, salespeople, engineers, and human resources professionals.
- A bachelor’s degree or higher or equivalent work experience is typically required.
- Work environments include offices, coworking spaces, and remote locations.
- Typical income can be $50,000-$5 million or more.
Hiring for Blue-Collar and White-Collar Jobs
Hiring for blue-collar jobs should be approached differently from white-collar jobs:
Hiring channels
These approaches are best for filling blue-collar jobs:
- Local job boards
- Social media
- Job fairs
- Industry conventions
- Employee referrals
- Staffing agencies
Conversely, these approaches are best for filling white-collar jobs:
- Glassdoor
- Specialized job boards
- Networking
- Employee referrals
- Recruitment firms
Candidate screening and interview differences
Screening and interviewing for blue-collar jobs are informal. A phone call, short interview, and brief trial period might be sufficient. The average hiring time is under 25 days.
In contrast, screening and interviewing for white-collar jobs are intensive. A phone call and 2-3 interviews might be used to evaluate each candidate’s qualifications and cultural fit. The average hiring time is 42 days.
Hire Skilled Workers in Georgia Fast
Let Impact Staffing get to work filling your Georgia company’s blue- and white-collar job openings with qualified workers. Find out more today.
