employment

The word “employment” means a paid job or work that someone does regularly. In plain terms, having, or being able to get, a paid job.

“Employment” is pronounced ihm-PLOY-muhnt (/ɪmˈplɔɪmənt/ in IPA).

Here is “employment” used in a sentence: “She found employment at a local law firm.”

Words with a similar meaning to “employment” include employ and hire.

The opposite of “employment” — its antonyms — are disemployment and unemployment.

“Employment” is a noun.

“Employment” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Employment” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a paid job or work that someone does regularly.

Employment means having paid work — a job you do regularly in exchange for wages or a salary. Unemployment is the opposite: being without a job while actively looking for one and available to work. Economists track the unemployment rate as the share of the workforce that is jobless but seeking employment.

Common types include full-time and part-time work, permanent and temporary positions, and fixed-term or contract roles. There is also self-employment, where people work for themselves, and freelance or gig work paid per task. Each differs in hours, security, and benefits, but all involve paid work done regularly.

A job is a specific position or role, such as 'a job as a nurse.' Employment is the broader idea of having paid work at all, or the relationship between a worker and an employer. You might say someone is in employment, meaning they hold a job, whatever that particular job happens to be.

Employment provides income to cover living costs, but it also offers structure, purpose, social connection, and a sense of contribution. For society, high employment supports economic growth and reduces reliance on welfare. For individuals, steady work is closely linked to financial security and, for many, to wellbeing and self-esteem.