Division of Labor

The three new categories are routine production workers (data processors, payroll clerks, factory workers), in-person service workers (janitors, taxi drivers), and symbolic analysts (software engineers, management consultants, strategic planners). These categories are different from the old blue/white collar categorization as they are based on computer and Internet usage. The first two groups only use computers in routine ways, while symbolic analysts have specialized training and make advanced use of ICTs. These divisions play into our discussions about inequality, digital divide, and racial ravines as they demonstrate how people with more education and technological skills are usually able to find higher paying jobs as these jobs require specialized training.