A century ago was "Arbeitnehmer" equivalent to white collar/salaried staff more than to manual worker?

[edmont]

A century ago, say around 1920, did "Arbeitnehmer" refer more to head workers than to manual workers? More to white collar than to blue collar? More to salaried staff than to wage earners?  Was it more like Angestellte than like Arbeiter?

Thank you for any assistance.

[tiorthan]

Unlike "Angestellter" und "Arbeiter" which in the right context indicate white and blue collar work respectively, the term "Arbeitnehmer" is literally the most generic form of saying employee we have in German.

[edmont]

Thanks tiorthan!