ENGLISH
REFERENCE

workforce

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈwɝkˌfɔɹs// UK //wˈɜːkfɔːs// work·force General-service

n. all the people who work for a company, an industry, or a country. It describes the group of people who are available to do a job.

n. the total number of people employed by a specific company or industry, or the collective population of a country available for work.


SIMPLE

The company plans to reduce its workforce by ten percent next year.

CONTEXTUAL

The local government is investing in training programs to help the workforce adapt to new digital technologies.

COMPLEX

As automation reshapes the manufacturing sector, the global workforce must pivot toward roles that prioritize creative problem-solving and interpersonal management over repetitive manual labor.

Synonyms
Origin

From work + force.

Usage

Often used with a singular verb when referring to the group as a single unit, though plural verbs are acceptable in British English.

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