workforce

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noun work·force \ ˈwərk-ˌfȯrs \

Definition of workforce

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

See workforce defined for English-language learners

See workforce defined for kids

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 of workforce from the Web

The expansion doubled the plant's square footage and will lead to a doubling of its workforce.

— william thornton, AL.com, "Opelika, Auburn talking about shared skate park," 29 Aug. 2017
Taylor said officials conduct large-scale exercises, such as what happened Thursday, about once a year, and smaller exercises throughout the year to test the readiness of the workforce.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "APG holds active shooter drill, hosts mock media conference afterward," 17 Aug. 2017
For instance, 33 percent of Iowa’s workforce is licensed, while only 12.4 percent of South Carolina’s is.

— michelle cottle, The Atlantic, "The Onerous, Arbitrary, Unaccountable World of Occupational Licensing," 13 Aug. 2017
Google has also been criticized, like many other tech companies, for having a workforce dominated by white men.

— suzannah weiss, Glamour, "Dozens of Women Are Considering Suing Google Over Workplace Sexism," 9 Aug. 2017
Its report, released Aug. 1, had one finding: The department did not properly document how companies that received key workforce training development grants were eligible for the money.

— cynthia sewell, idahostatesman, "Head of Idaho’s Department of Labor abruptly resigns," 8 Aug. 2017
The United States can prosper by retooling the skills and orientation of its workforce.

— milton ezrati, National Review, "Globalization Can Be Good for American Workers," 7 Aug. 2017
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 70% of moms with children under 18 participate in the workforce.

— samantha brodsky, Good Housekeeping, "The Average Mom Reportedly Works the Equivalent of 2 Full-Time Jobs Per Week," 31 July 2017
The KCI solicitation was designed to prod aspirants for the contract to demonstrate that a proposal could meet workforce goals.

— steve vockrodt, kansascity, "Burns & McDonnell irks KCI competitors with exclusive contractor deals," 23 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'workforce.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of workforce

1931

workforce Synonyms

Synonyms

help, labor force, manpower, personnel, pool, staff, force

Related Words

labor, proletariat, rank and file; band, company, crew, gang, outfit, party, squad, team; employee (also employe), helper, hireling, worker; blood; support

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

WORKFORCE Defined for English Language Learners

workforce

play

noun

Definition of workforce for English Language Learners

: the group of people who work for a particular organization or business
: the number of people in a country or area who are available for work

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workforce

Definition of workforce

Examples of workforce in a Sentence

Recent Examples of workforce from the Web

First Known Use of workforce

workforce Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Business Terms

WORKFORCE Defined for English Language Learners

workforce

Definition of workforce for English Language Learners

Learn More about workforce

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