workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfȯrs 

1

: the workers engaged in a specific activity or enterprise

the factory's workforce

2

: the number of workers potentially assignable for any purpose

the nation's workforce

Synonyms of workforce

• staff
• manpower
• personnel
• pool

Examples of workforce in a Sentence

We have a workforce of 2,400 people.

the office's entire workforce is devoted to a single project right now

Recent Examples on the Web

Driving through the town at daybreak, the groups of men in protective uniforms and convoys of long haul trucks point to the massive economic contribution of the mine to a community Valterra estimates supplies 70% of the plant’s workforce. — Alexis Akwagyiram, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Illinois families deserve affordable utility bills and a natural gas system that is safe, reliable and maintained by a skilled workforce. — Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026

The creation of more tech sector jobs may increase the chances of Nepali youth staying in the country, but growing Nepal’s domestic workforce has remained urgent—and contentious. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026

The pair of bills scraps the state’s ban on community colleges offering any bachelor’s degree already available at CSU or UC, and replaces it with a system built around regional workforce needs and a district college’s performance. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for workforce

• concourse
• divorce
• endorse
• enforce
• indorse
• midcourse
• outsource
• perforce
• racehorse
• remorse
• seahorse
• workhorse

Kids Definition

workforce

noun

work·​force ˈwərk-ˌfō(ə)rs 

-ˌfȯ(ə)rs

: the workers of a specific activity or business

the factory's workforce