The rise of men in pink collar jobs is dubbed the "pink collar boom" in this infographic from WorkBoots.com.
The website, which sells heavy duty footwear for use in labor and trade jobs, points out in this infographic the trend toward more men working in careers typically dominated by women. Since the last decade, men in pink collar jobs has doubled.
So what exactly qualify as pink collar jobs? Examples are librarians, dental hygienists, receptionists, registered nurses and paralegals. The profile of an average pink collar man is college educated, white males aged 25-39.
There are several reasons for this shift. Due to the recession, these jobs are increasingly attractive because they are easy entry jobs. With the baby boomer generation aging, there is a higher demand for registered nurses for instance. And lastly, there has been a general "erosion of gender stereotypes."
Gender-Bending Occupations
More Men are Working in Non-Traditional Jobs Than Ever Before
Trend Themes
1. Pink Collar Boom - The rise of men in non-traditional jobs is an opportunity to create gender-inclusive workplaces.
2. Erosion of Gender Stereotypes - Challenging gender stereotypes can lead to positive societal changes and open new doors for men in female-dominated industries.
3. Increased Demand for Healthcare Jobs - The demand for registered nurses and other healthcare professionals will continue to grow as the population ages.
Industry Implications
1. Healthcare - There is an opportunity for healthcare organizations to be more inclusive of male healthcare professionals and address the shortage of healthcare workers.
2. Education - Educational institutions can address the gender disparity in certain fields, such as early childhood education and nursing, by actively recruiting male students and creating gender-inclusive learning environments.
3. Legal Services - Law firms can seek to diversify their paralegal workforce by recruiting and retaining more male paralegals to promote gender inclusivity.