skilled labor

American  

noun

1. labor that requires special training for its satisfactory performance.

2. the workers employed in such labor.

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Etymology

Origin of skilled labor

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

Some tech leaders attribute the drop in industry employment mostly to overhiring following the pandemic, when skilled labor was hard to obtain and retain.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 1, 2026

And although skilled labor shortages persist in the U.S., pharmaceutical training demands are lower than those in high-tech sectors.

From Barron's • Oct. 8, 2025

In its place, a new system gave priority to family reunification and skilled labor, unintentionally setting the stage for large-scale immigration from Asia, Latin America and Africa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 27, 2025

If we reframe parenthood as a form of skilled labor instead of an innate instinct, we can find room for both men and women to excel as parents.

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2025

Skilled labor is a power or rather a multiple of simple labor, so that a small amount of skilled labor is equivalent to a larger amount of unskilled labor.

From Landmarks of Scientific Socialism "Anti-Duehring" by Engels, Friedrich