Word
workforce
Phoneticswork·force, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈwɝkˌfɔɹs/
UK/wˈɜːkfɔːs/
Definitions
01company employees
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. all the people who work for a particular company or organization.
n. the total number of people employed by a specific firm, institution, or project.
“The company plans to reduce its workforce by ten percent next year.”
“The manufacturing plant maintains a highly skilled workforce of over five hundred technicians and engineers.”
Antonyms
02national labor pool
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. all the people in a country or area who are able to work.
n. the total population of a country or region that is currently employed or seeking employment.
“A large part of the country's workforce is now employed in the technology sector.”
“Economists are concerned that an aging population will lead to a significant shrinking of the national workforce over the next decade.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the'.
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “workforce” in context.
Verb
01. join the workforce
“Many young people are finding it difficult to join the workforce after graduation.”
verb + noun
02. manage the workforce
“New software was implemented to help the HR department manage the workforce more effectively.”
verb + noun
03. reduce the workforce
“The company announced plans to reduce the workforce by ten percent to cut costs.”
verb + noun
Adjective
04. aging workforce
“The government is concerned about the economic impact of an aging workforce.”
adj + noun
05. diverse workforce
“A diverse workforce brings a wider range of perspectives to the decision-making process.”
adj + noun
06. skilled workforce
“The city attracts tech companies because it has a highly skilled workforce.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. size of the workforce
“The total size of the workforce has remained stable despite the recent economic downturn.”
noun + of + noun
08. workforce participation
“Economists are studying the decline in workforce participation among men in their fifties.”
noun + noun
Preposition
09. in the workforce
“Women now occupy more leadership roles in the workforce than they did twenty years ago.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“Bumble Inc, the Texas-based parent company which also owns Badoo, laid off nearly a third of its global workforce last year.” “Prof Yasushi Ogasawara, an expert on Japan's social system and technology at Meiji University, says there aren't enough tech-savvy people in the workforce.” “Employing more AI agents can be done with the click of a button, whereas expanding the human workforce would involve careful discussions over headcount and hiring, he says.” Etymology
From work + force.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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