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

Government workers, who make up a large part of the workforce, are still getting salaries. —ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026

Meanwhile, Kilkenny will continue to cover core issues impacting the industry’s workforce and the business of Hollywood unions for THR’s website and print magazine. —Thr Staff, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026

But workers are also wary of the risks threatening typical 9-to-5 roles, with future-of-work reports and big-name CEOs predicting widespread workforce changes. —Megan Sauer sarah Jackson sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2026

Federal dollars are also given to the Texas Workforce Commission, which then allocates the money to 28 local workforce development boards across the state. —Jess Huff, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 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
• 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