workforce
noun /ˈwɜːkfɔːs/
/ˈwɜːrkfɔːrs/
[countable + singular or plural verb]- all the people who work for a particular company, organization, etc. synonym staff
- The factory has a 1 000-strong workforce.
- Two thirds of the workforce is/are women.
Wordfinder- assembly line
- capacity
- factory
- foreman
- plant
- process
- production
- shift
- shop floor
- workforce
Collocations UnemploymentUnemploymentLosing your job- lose your job
- (British English) become/be made redundant
- be offered/take voluntary redundancy/early retirement
- face/be threatened with dismissal/(British English) the sack/(British English) compulsory redundancy
- dismiss/fire/ (especially British English) sack an employee/a worker/a manager
- lay off staff/workers/employees
- (Australian English, New Zealand English, South African English) retrench workers
- cut/reduce/downsize/slash the workforce
- (British English) make staff/workers/employees redundant
- be unemployed/out of work/out of a job
- seek/look for work/employment
- be on/collect/draw/get/receive (both British English) unemployment benefit/jobseeker’s allowance
- be/go/live/sign (British English, informal) on the dole
- claim/draw/get (British English, informal) the dole
- be on/qualify for (North American English) unemployment (compensation)
- be/go/live/depend (North American English) on welfare
- collect/receive (North American English) welfare
- combat/tackle/cut/reduce unemployment
Extra ExamplesTopics Working lifeb2, Businessb2- Companies are under pressure to hire a more diverse workforce.
- One person in the workforce is always responsible for the same job.
- The company employs a workforce of nearly 5 000.
- The management always consults with the workforce before introducing major changes.
- The new management decided to retrain the entire workforce.
- The shipyard has a total workforce of 9 000.
- The workforce numbers 500.
- The factory will have to lose half of its 1 000-strong workforce.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- educated
- qualified
- skilled
- …
- employ
- have
- cut
- …
- fall
- double
- increase
- …
- among a/the workforce
- in a/the workforce
- a member of the workforce
- all the people in a country or an area who are available for work
- A quarter of the local workforce is/are unemployed.
- an educated workforce
Extra Examples- The increase in the number of people entering the workforce has increased unemployment figures.
- There is a change in the distribution of skills among the workforce.
- a highly skilled workforce
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- educated
- qualified
- skilled
- …
- employ
- have
- cut
- …
- fall
- double
- increase
- …
- among a/the workforce
- in a/the workforce
- a member of the workforce
Wordfinder
- apply
- appoint
- contract
- dismiss
- employ
- job
- pay
- retire
- work
- workforce