Choose the correctly matched pair from the following.
Choose the correctly matched pair from the following.
Options
Correct option: B — Gold collar workers are highly skilled professionals and senior specialists, a category that includes senior business executives.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark: selecting option B (Gold collar worker – Senior business executive).
Hint
Gold collar = highly skilled professionals/senior executives; Blue collar = manual labour (mining); Pink collar = personal-care service roles; Red collar = government employees.
Quick Oral Answer
Gold collar workers are highly skilled professionals and senior specialists, including senior business executives, doctors, lawyers and pilots — distinct from blue collar (manual), white collar (office) and pink collar (personal-care service) workers.
Analysis & Explanation
This question tests the informal 'collar' classification used to describe types of workers in the tertiary/quaternary sector.
Why Option B is correct
- Gold collar workers are highly skilled professionals and senior specialists — a category that includes senior business executives along with doctors, lawyers and pilots — so 'Gold collar worker – Senior business executive' is a correctly matched pair.
Why the other options are wrong
- Red collar workers (A) generally refers to government/public-sector employees, not practising lawyers, who are usually classed as gold collar professionals.
- Pink collar workers (C) are those in personal-care/service roles traditionally associated with women (e.g. childcare, reception work), not environmental scientists.
- White collar workers (D) are non-manual office/professional employees, whereas a mining worker performing manual labour is classed as blue collar.
Common Mistakes
- 1Matching 'lawyer' with red collar instead of gold collar — practising lawyers are typically classed among highly skilled gold collar professionals.
- 2Confusing pink collar (personal-care/service roles) with any female-dominated professional occupation such as environmental science.
Interesting Facts
The term 'white collar' originated from the white dress shirts typically worn by office workers, in contrast to the blue work-shirts of manual labourers, hence 'blue collar'.
New collar categories such as gold, pink and grey collar emerged as service and knowledge-based economies grew, reflecting increasing specialisation within the tertiary and quaternary sectors.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a gold collar worker?
A gold collar worker is a highly skilled professional or specialist with high-demand expertise, such as doctors, lawyers, pilots and senior business executives.
What is the difference between white collar and blue collar workers?
White collar workers perform non-manual, office-based or professional work, while blue collar workers perform manual labour, typically in industries like mining, construction or manufacturing.