Gray Collar
The careers AI can't replace
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Florida Gator
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EGS 4100 · Divergent Thinking
2026 Word of the Year Challenge

Gray Collar Word of the Year

100 million Americans work in skilled, technical careers that no algorithm can replace. They build, repair, inspect, and maintain the infrastructure of modern life. They don't have a name. Yet.

The Challenge

Make the case. Why should Gray Collar be Merriam-Webster's 2026 Word of the Year? The workforce is real. The gap is real. The word is ready.

Meet the Challengers
100M+
Gray Collar Workers in America
5–7M
Unfilled Positions by 2030
22×
More Hires Than Net New Jobs
0
Dictionary Definitions. Until Now.