labor market

American  

noun

1. the available supply of labor considered with reference to the demand for it.

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labor market Cultural  

1. An area of economic exchange in which workers seek jobs and employers seek workers. A “tight” labor market has more jobs than workers. In a “slack” labor market, the reverse is true.

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Etymology

Origin of labor market

First recorded in 1825–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

labor market

Meanwhile, in other labor market news, layoffs continue here and abroad.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

“They’re entering a labor market that is increasingly challenging for entry-level roles in light of AI … and facing head-on a massive affordability challenge.”

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026

A reading of the U.S. labor market from The Conference Board moved up in August, with signs that underemployment is easing and perceptions of job availability are improving, a gauge of employment showed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

The U.S. has entered a phase where economists believe the country doesn’t have to add many jobs a month to keep the labor market steady.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

A half an hour or so of Web research revealed an agreeably tight labor market, with entry-level jobs advertised at $8 an hour or more and studio apartments for $400 or less.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich