Workers Shift Between Blue and White Collar Roles
A Top Employers Institute survey of more than 10,000 workers across 15 countries finds widespread crossover between hands-on and office-based jobs.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Employment
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A Top Employers Institute study found that 81% of blue-collar workers and 74% of white-collar workers had previously worked in the opposite type of role. The report also found that 41% of workers were considering leaving or actively looking for another job.
Why it matters
The findings suggest that the line between hands-on and office-based work is more porous than commonly assumed, which could shape how employers plan internal mobility and retention. With 41% of surveyed workers considering a move, the data points to a potential pressure point for employers across the 15 countries studied.
Among more than 10,000 surveyed workers across 15 countries, 81% of blue-collar and 74% of white-collar workers reported prior experience in the opposite type of role, according to a Top Employers Institute survey. The report does not break these figures down by individual country or industry, and it does not establish how many of these moves occurred within a single employer.
The players
Top Employers Institute
A global certification body that rates employers on workplace practices and conducts workforce research across multiple countries.
The details
The Top Employers Institute surveyed workers across 15 countries and grouped respondents into five workforce profiles based on their experiences. Among blue-collar workers who saw no realistic move opportunity, 35% pointed to the absence of a formal process, compared with 33% of white-collar workers. Seven in 10 blue-collar workers reported that staff shortages had increased over the previous year.
Timeline
Over the previous year, blue-collar workers reported rising staff shortages.
Within three months, 18% of white-collar workers said finding an equally good job elsewhere would be extremely easy.
Big Picture
The findings extend the Top Employers Institute's ongoing workforce research, which has tracked employer practices across multiple countries. This edition shifts the focus from employer ratings to the everyday movement of workers between hands-on and office-based roles.
For workers weighing a change, the survey suggests that moving between hands-on and office-based roles is more common than many assume. Workers who see no formal internal move process may need to look outside their current employer to change roles.
The takeaway
Employers that create formal internal mobility paths may be better positioned to retain workers who are already considering a move. Workers who want to shift between work types may find that their existing experience transfers more easily than they expect.
Further reading
Explore more on Employment trends affecting workers across industries and countries.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Personnel Today.
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Do you feel you could realistically switch between hands-on and office-based work?
