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

• 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

This reality is particularly concerning given that, according to the WEF’s report, women make up nearly half of the global workforce, yet hold less than a third of senior leadership roles. —Liz Elting, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Tweak to child care reimbursement could open up more seats for children HB 2294 allows local workforce development boards to provide higher reimbursement rates to child care providers who enroll children with scholarships. —Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 June 2025

San Diego’s federal workforce seems to be only mildly affected by large cuts by the Trump administration. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 June 2025

At the same time, Wynwood Norte is seeing some of the fruits of the rezoning in the form of several low-scale, neighborhood-friendly workforce apartment buildings that are now under construction, said Miami attorney Steven Wernick, who helped steer that plan to approval. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for workforce

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

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