# workforce

/ˈwɝkˌfɔɹs/ (US) · /wˈɜːkfɔːs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/workforce
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. company employees

noun · CEFR B2

all the people who work for a particular company or organization.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. national labor pool

noun · CEFR B2

all the people in a country or area who are able to work.

For teachers: 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'.

## Examples

- The company plans to reduce its workforce by ten percent next year.
- The local government is investing in training programs to help the workforce adapt to new digital technologies.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.