With the and plural agreement. Employed people considered as a class. Cf. unemployed, adj. n.2b.

a labour force, or the skills it possesses, regarded as a resource or asset.

people engaged in or available for work in a particular area, industry, etc.; = workforce, n.

Workers (esp. manual workers) considered collectively, esp. as a social group or political force. Cf. sense 6.

Workers considered collectively; (Economics) all the members of the population who are either in employment or seeking work; the total possible…

With singular or plural agreement. People engaged in or available for work, either in a country or region or in a particular company or industry…