semiskilled

American  

[sem-ee-skild, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈskɪld, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. having or requiring more training and skill than unskilled labor but less than skilled labor.

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semiskilled British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈskɪld /

adjective

1. partly skilled or trained but not sufficiently so to perform specialized work

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Etymology

Origin of semiskilled

First recorded in 1915–20; semi- + skilled

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

semiskilled

In Lynn, Mass., shopkeepers consolidated skilled labor while distributing semiskilled work to households.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

The workers interviewed for this story are among the armies of men and women from Asia and Africa who do the manual and semiskilled labor that keeps U.S. military bases abroad running day after day.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 27, 2022

An agency reported that the work force nationwide is composed of 10 percent professional, 10 percent clerical, 30 percent skilled, 15 percent service, and 35 percent semiskilled laborers.

From Textbooks ● Mar. 27, 2020

As baby boomers age, O'Keefe says, they'll drive the need for semiskilled health care workers, such as home health aides, to assist with daily tasks and basic medical services.

From US News ● Jan. 26, 2016

Another education law adopted in 1948 provided for the further expansion of vocational and professional courses to train skilled and semiskilled workers and to increase the theoretical and professional knowledge of the technicians.

From Area Handbook for Albania by Sarah Jane Elpern