noun
Common
workforce
WURK-faws
Workforce (noun) means All the people employed by a company, industry, or country. Example: “Most of the factory's workforce lives within a few miles of the site.”
noun
1
All the people employed by a company, industry, or country.
"Most of the factory's workforce lives within a few miles of the site."
"The company's workforce grew by 20 percent last year."
"Automation is reshaping the manufacturing workforce."
How to use workforce
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe total group of people who work, whether for one employer or across a whole region.
Common pairings
skilled workforce
join the workforce
shrinking workforce
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Word forms
- Plural
- workforces
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Most of the factory's _____ lives within a few miles of the site.
Etymology
A combination of "work" and "force," describing the collective body of workers.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for workforce
See all rhymes for workforce →Frequently asked questions
What does “workforce” mean?
The word “workforce” means all the people employed by a company, industry, or country. In plain terms, the total group of people who work, whether for one employer or across a whole region.
How do you pronounce “workforce”?
“Workforce” is pronounced WURK-faws (/ˈwɝk.foɹs/ in IPA).
How do you use “workforce” in a sentence?
Here is “workforce” used in a sentence: “The company's workforce grew by 20 percent last year.”
What is another word for “workforce”?
Words with a similar meaning to “workforce” include manpower, jobforce, labour force, human resources, liveware and personnel.
What part of speech is “workforce”?
“Workforce” is a noun.
Is “workforce” a common word?
“Workforce” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "workforce" and "staff"?
"Workforce" refers to all the people available for or engaged in work, often across a whole company, industry, or country, while "staff" usually means the employees of one particular organisation or department. Workforce tends to be broader in scope.
Is "workforce" singular or plural?
"Workforce" is a collective noun, singular in form and taking "a" — "a workforce." It can take a singular verb ("the workforce is growing") or, especially in British English, a plural verb when the individual workers are emphasised ("the workforce are unhappy"). Its plural is "workforces."
What is the difference between "workforce" and "labour force"?
The two are close and often interchangeable, both meaning the people engaged in or available for work. "Labour force" is common in economics and official statistics, where it usually covers everyone employed or actively seeking work, while "workforce" is used more generally.
Is "workforce" one word or two?
"Workforce" is now most commonly written as one word, though the two-word form "work force" is also seen, particularly in older or American texts. The single-word spelling is the standard modern form.
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