workforce

Or work force

[wurk-fawrs]

noun

1. the total number of workers in a specific undertaking.

   a holiday for the company's workforce.

2. the total number of people employed or employable.

   a sharp increase in the nation's workforce.

workforce

/ ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs /

noun

1. the total number of workers employed by a company on a specific job, project, etc

2. the total number of people who could be employed

   the country's workforce is growing rapidly

Word History and Origins

Origin of workforce¹

First recorded in 1940–45; work ( def. ) + force ( def. )

Example Sentences

Artificial intelligence is disrupting the workforce, but reports about how that’s happening have been confusing, taken out of context—or used to prove doom-and-gloom scenarios that are unlikely to unfold.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The government says the long-pending reforms aim to modernise outdated laws, simplify compliance, and protect workers' rights - while giving legal recognition to India's growing gig workforce for the first time.

Read more on BBC

The British Association of Social Workers said the social work sector is "under considerable strain", with the highest level of referrals to children's social services in a decade and a depleted workforce.

Read more on BBC

"Marlow will also be a centre for cultivating the next generation of talent - teaching our young people the skills the industry needs, ensuring we have a workforce fit for the future," said Lord Vaizey.

Read more on BBC

“Yet nurses prepared at these levels are essential to the workforce — as advanced practice nurses, faculty, researchers, and expert clinicians,” she said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• labor pool www.thesaurus.com
• personnel