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

Nonprofits are currently facing challenges from federal funding cuts, inflation and workforce shortages. —Silvia Solis, AZCentral.com, 23 Nov. 2025

And as more of them entered the workforce, the demand for childcare went up. —Lauren Hilgers, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025

However, that confidence has so far not translated into an expansion of their workforce. —Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 23 Nov. 2025

Building smarter faster With US reindustrialization accelerating, Bedrock says its technology helps bridge the growing gap between surging domestic infrastructure demand and a shrinking construction workforce. —Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined at sense 2

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