question on meaning of Angestellte vs. Arbeiter a century ago

[edmont]

Today, the difference between Angestellte and Arbeiter is often translated thus

salaried employee and wage earner

white collar and blue collar

clerical or managerial employee, and manual worker.

But what did Angestellte and Arbeiter mean a century ago? The same cluster of distinctions?

Thank you for any assistance.

[tiorthan]

The situation in modern German is a bit different, actually. Arbeiter is a subcategory of Angestellter. That means Angestellte are both blue and white collar employees. However, when you use Angestellter in a context where it complements Arbeiter (or is set in contrast) then it only means white collar employees.

Effectively, that's the same use the two words would have had a century ago.

[edmont]

tiorthan, thank you for the subtle distinction. Let me see if I have it.

So a century ago Arbeiter was generally not a subcategory of Angestellte. 

Back then, Arbeiter meant blue collar and Angestellte meant white collar.

Today, Arbeiter is a subcategory of Angestellte, unless the two terms are set in contrast, and then the old binary meaning applies.

[tiorthan]

So a century ago Arbeiter was generally not a subcategory of Angestellte. 

No I meant that for all I know the usage of the words hasn't changed.

[edmont]

tiorthan,
ok, thanks very much for the clarification.