• by Jack Loechner , Staff Writer, May 2, 2006

According to response from the metropolitan markets surveyed regularly by The Media Audit, the participation of females and Hispanics in the blue collar workforce is increasing. Female participation in the blue collar work force is now at 34.9 percent, up from 31.6 percent in 2000, while Hispanics as a percent of the blue collar work force increased from 19.0 percent to 22.5 percent.

In addition:

• The percentage of Caucasians in the blue collar work force declined from 59.1 percent to 52.8 percent
• African-American participation declined from 17.6 percent to 15.9 percent.
• The participation of Asians remained unchanged at 3.7 percent
• The number of blue collar workers between the ages of 18 and 44 decreased from 69.1 percent to 67.8 percent 

 During the same period:

• The number of blue collar workers earning less than $25,000 a year stayed virtually the same
• Those earning $50,000 or more a year increased from 38.7 percent to 44.4 percent
• Those earning $75,000 or more increased from 16.1 percent to 21.4 percent
• Those earning $100,000 or more per year increased from 6.5 percent to 9.7 percent
• Nineteen percent of female blue collar workers earn less than $25,000 each year
• 10.1 percent of male blue collar workers earn less than $25,000 each year

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