White-collar worker definition

A White-collar worker is an unofficial term used to describe any employee whose services to the business is based on managing information, such as executives, managers, administrative, technical, clerical, etc., rather than physical labor.

The term is derived from the classic dress of this type of employee, which is the white shirt, and is distinguished from the employee whose value to the company is based on some level of manual labor, and which, have been called "blue collar" workers, because of their classic work clothes.