Workforce

Definition

"Workforce" refers to the people available for work in a particular area, firm, or industry, or the people engaged in or available for work, either in a country, area, or company.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈwɜrkˌfɔrs/
• Respelling: WURK-force

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈwɜːkˌfɔːs/
• Respelling: WURK-force

In both American and British English, "workforce" is indeed pronounced with the stress on the first syllable. The primary difference lies in the vowel sound of the "force" part of the word; the American pronunciation uses a shorter /ɔr/ sound, while the British pronunciation uses a longer /ɔː/ sound. The rest of the word is pronounced similarly in both versions of English.

Etymology

The term "workforce" is a compound of the words "work" and "force". "Work" is derived from the Old English "weorc" which means "something done". "Force", on the other hand, comes from Old French "force" or "forche", referring to strength or power. Together, they describe a group or force of people engaged in or available for work.

Derivatives

• Workforce management
• Workforce planning
• Workforce optimization
• Workforce development
• Workforce analytics

Synonyms

• Employees
• Staff
• Personnel

Antonyms

• Unemployment
• Joblessness
• Redundancy

Usage

"Workforce" is a term that is widely utilized in businesses, industries, and governmental bodies to refer to their pool of employees or potential workers. It often reflects the total number of individuals who can be employed or those who are currently under employment.

Related Terms

• Labor force
• Human resources
• Manpower
• Staffing
• Employment

Detailed Definition

Noun

• All the people who are available for work, especially in a particular company, industry, or country.‍
• Example: The country has a skilled and educated workforce.

• The total number of people employed or available to be employed by a business or organization.‍
• Example: The company has a workforce of over 10,000 employees.

• A group of workers who collectively possess the skills and expertise necessary for a particular job or industry.‍
• Example: The tech industry has a diverse and dynamic workforce.