In which countries blue-collar wages are higher than white-collar wages?

In many countries, brain-body differentiation is not serious, and it is not unusual for blue-collar workers to have higher wages than white-collar workers. At the same time, blue-collar jobs are more respected.

Germany: Technicians are highly respected

“It may be difficult for people who are not familiar with the situation to imagine that a friend of mine is a truck driver and his monthly income is about the same as mine. Including overtime, it is usually much higher than my income," said Mr. Yang, who has studied and worked in Germany for many years.

When I said these words, it was the 2012 Cologne Carnival in Germany. In a lively local bar, Mr. Yang, wearing a suit and leather tie, told reporters about the treatment between blue-collar workers and white-collar workers in Germany. Mr. Yang now works in a large company in Germany. After years of hard work, he is now a middle-level manager of the company and has a permanent employment contract. He can be described as a typical white-collar worker.

Generally speaking, the wages and benefits of blue-collar workers and white-collar workers in Germany are not as different as in some countries. This situation does not make people like Mr. Yang feel unfair. "Although blue-collar workers may have similar incomes to me, they are traveling outside all year round. While we are drinking beer here, others may still be working hard."

As a major manufacturing country, Germany attaches great importance to blue-collar workers. Philip Boeing, an economist at the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany, once told reporters that many Germans have been interested in machinery since childhood and like to tinker with machines themselves. “It is good for these people to be able to work in factories when they grow up. choose".

In Germany, the dividing line between blue-collar and white-collar students in their future careers begins in elementary school. Children with excellent academic performance and suitable for studying and doing scientific research are naturally "transported" to the higher education stage in the German education system. With higher academic qualifications, they will eventually work in scientific research institutions, hospitals, banks, etc. It is common for most people in many countries. An enviable place to go. Most German students cannot get a Ph.D. or even get into university, but German parents are not in a hurry and will never "force" famous college students or even master's or Ph.D. students with sticks.

“In German factories, technicians and engineers are very respected.” Boeing said. Not only that, many technicians in factories earn even more than white-collar workers.

However, it is not easy for technicians in the factory to develop skills. From the time German students enter vocational schools, it has become a "compulsory course" to learn craftsmanship and skills from master masters in factories, and of course they must also undergo strict examinations.

When the reporter interviewed Mercedes-Benz in Germany at the Sindelfingen factory, they found that many mechanics have been working there for their entire lives since entering the factory. "The technicians are "polishing" exquisite cars one after another from their hands. The technicians are proud of the factory and the company. Of course, these experienced technicians are also a valuable asset of the company." said a relevant person from the factory.

A survey released by the U.S. Department of Labor last year showed that in 2012, the income of German blue-collar workers ranked sixth in the world, with an hourly wage of US$43.76 (US$1 is equivalent to RMB 6.18).

I am afraid that it is precisely because of this that even though the German economy is shrouded in the clouds of the European debt crisis, it can still rely on the manufacturing industry supported by blue-collar workers and repeatedly create miracles of growth against the trend.

Japan: Farmers earn more than civil servants

The reporter walked into a tea pot (an iron pot for boiling water in tea ceremony) workshop and saw a tea pot selling for 1 million yen (about 100 yen) (6.28 yuan), and it is common for a tea bowl made by a senior pottery artist to sell for 500,000 to 600,000 yen in Ginza. Seeing such prices, you can guess the income of these blue-collar workers, right?

In Japan, many blue-collar workers started their careers halfway on their way to white-collar jobs. A worker at a printing press manufacturer told reporters that he was a college student but dropped out of school. However, those who joined this printing machinery factory as a blue-collar worker would "not necessarily earn much higher after graduating from college."

The December 2006 issue of the Japanese business management magazine "PRESIDENT" used 111 pages to comprehensively introduce the income of various industries in Japan.

Among them, 13.29 million yen is for dentists (90,000 people), 8.08 million yen for employees of excellent listed companies (960,000 people), 7.65 million yen for farmers (3.68 million people), and 7.28 million yen for local civil servants (3.14 million people). people), national civil servants are 6.28 million yen (1.1 million people), working class average is 4.39 million yen (44.53 million people), boiler workers are 4.03 million yen (10,000 people), and carpenters are 3.65 million yen ( 50,000 people).

It can be seen that the income of farmers is not low, and is even higher than that of national civil servants and local civil servants. The number of individuals in the high-income class is actually very limited. Most people's incomes are relatively average, and the brain-body differentiation is not serious. Now, a convenience store next to the reporter's station is recruiting part-time workers, and they can earn 1,000 yen per hour.

Atsushi Sawada, representative of the Japan-China Entrepreneurship Association's Kuunaga Office, pointed out that the income of blue-collar workers and white-collar workers mainly depends on the "balance of demand and supply" to determine prices, and wages are also determined by this economic principle. There are various levels of white-collar workers, and there are various types of blue-collar jobs.

Fund managers, branch presidents of large banks and other cadres, university professors, etc. are generally high-income earners. Because holding these positions requires high-end knowledge, experience and opportunities. Tea pots used in tea ceremonies sell for 1 million yen each, and the tea pot masters who make tea pots also need superb skills to make high-priced tea pots.

The wages for simple labor that anyone can do are very low. For example, simple work of transporting materials in road construction, cleaning industry, and waiters in restaurants, etc.

Japan has a large number of university graduates and graduate students, and many people work in white-collar jobs. Window work in banks and insurance companies and administrative work in companies can be classified as simple jobs. There is a constant supply of talents in these positions, so the wages are not too high.

In the past, in Japan, because there were very few college students, people generally held the value of "knowledge labor is better than manual labor". But now Japan's industrial structure has shifted to centering on the tertiary industry, and the number of highly educated people has increased significantly. Therefore, the idea that "white-collar workers are superior" no longer works.

Jiang Dechun, the business director of the China News Agency, which was founded by overseas Chinese in Japan, pointed out that Japan is a market economy, which has two meanings. One is to look at the relationship between supply and demand. For example, there are too many people with lawyer certificates, and the income of lawyers is more than However, there are many blue-collar workers in large companies; secondly, they rely on their ability to earn a living. Although the work is physically demanding and may not be very respectable, many earn more than white-collar workers. For example, workers who collect garbage in garbage treatment plants earn more than white-collar workers, including subsidies. Some people who engage in house decoration, hairdressing, beauticians, and massages also earn considerable income.

Australia: Holding a hammer is no worse than sitting in an office

Gordon has lived in Australia for a long time. His son David is tall, handsome, and very smart. He had excellent grades in high school. It stands to reason that it would be no problem to go to college and then find a good job. But David didn't follow common sense: after graduating from high school, he spent a year traveling around the world, working and traveling at the same time. When he came back, he registered a company and made a living by cutting grass and trimming trees in other people's gardens. "David was very happy. He often whistled while working and kept the lawn beautifully every time." Gordon said.

In the Australian summer, grass grows extremely fast. If it is not cut for a week or two, the grass will grow very high. Therefore, David only works in a few nearby residential areas, and his business is too busy. "Almost every house in these areas has a large lawn. It usually takes an hour to an hour and a half to complete, and charges 100 to 150 Australian dollars (1 Australian dollar is about 5.67 yuan). When you are busy, you can earn 500 to 600 a day. Australian dollars.”

Blue-collar workers earn well in Australia. According to data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in November 2012, the average weekly wage in New South Wales is 1,398.90 Australian dollars, while the average weekly wage for mining workers is 2,360.90 Australian dollars, administrative and public services are 1,470.40 Australian dollars, and the financial and insurance industry is 1,642.10 Australian dollars. According to statistics, the average weekly salary of blue-collar workers in Australia is A$1,229, which is A$144 higher than that of white-collar workers. Blue-collar occupations account for 6 of the 10 highest-paying occupations in Australia.

“Why are blue-collar workers’ wages so much higher?” An Australian replied, “Blue-collar workers put in physical effort and sweat, which is no easier than white-collar workers. People’s labor force should be fully recognized.” Maybe it’s because of this This cherishes labor force, and labor costs in Australia remain high. But on the other hand, if blue-collar income is guaranteed, the gap between rich and poor will not be large, which is conducive to social stability.

Precisely because the income gap between blue-collar and white-collar workers in Australia is not large, and some blue-collar workers even earn much more than white-collar workers, when choosing a job in Australia, people are more able to work according to their own preferences. If you work because you love it, you will be able to do your job better.

That's the kind of person Ian is. He studied accounting in college, and with excellent grades, he was contacted by a large financial company after graduation. Since he had several months of free time before starting his official job, Ian's father cut out job advertisements from the local newspaper and showed them to him. As a result, Ian picked up the hammer and never put it down again. "This is what makes me happy. When the company knew about my university background and wanted to promote me to become a manager and sit in the office, I refused. I would never exchange my hammer tool for an office chair."

Although blue-collar jobs do not require four years of professional training and study, in Australia, the vast majority of blue-collar jobs require specialized skills training and job qualification certificates. Dock workers must have professional forklift and crane operating qualification certificates before they can take up the job. Some blue-collar jobs also require an apprenticeship.

However, the blue-collar working environment also has relevant statutory safety guarantees. For example, there must be no items or furnishings that endanger the health and safety of employees in the working environment, and notice boards are placed everywhere to remind employees how to operate to avoid injuries. The company also explains various safety operations to each new employee. It is stipulated that men can only carry items not exceeding 30 kilograms, and women can only carry items not exceeding 25 kilograms. Otherwise, employees can complain.

(Excerpted from "International Herald Herald")