Workforce: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to refer to the total number of people working in a company, industry, or country. It is a broad term encompassing all workers.

• The company is planning to expand its workforce by 20% next year
• The aging workforce poses a challenge for many industries

Used to refer to the group of people who work at a particular place or within a particular department. It often implies a sense of teamwork.

• The hospital staff worked tirelessly during the outbreak
• The office staff includes secretaries, clerks, and managers

Often used in formal contexts to refer to the people who work in an organization, especially in relation to matters of administration or human resources.

• The human resources department manages all personnel records
• Personnel must wear identification badges at all times

Refers to individuals who work for a company or organization and receive compensation. It emphasizes the employer-employee relationship.

• The company offers its employees health benefits and paid vacations
• New employees are required to attend an orientation session

Refers specifically to manual laborers, usually in construction or similar types of work. It emphasizes the labor aspect and physical effort.

• The workmen were busy repairing the road
• Skilled workmen are essential for building strong infrastructure

Refers broadly to all the people engaged in or available for work, either in a specific company, industry, or region.

• The company is expanding its workforce to meet the new demand.
• The local workforce is highly skilled.

Used in economic and statistical contexts to describe all able-bodied people who are capable of working and are either employed or actively looking for work.

• The labor force participation rate has increased this year.
• The country's labor force is growing rapidly.

Commonly refers to a group of people available for specific jobs or tasks, often within a temporary or project-based setting.

• We need to tap into the freelance work pool for this project.
• The work pool for event management has expanded recently.

Used in demographic and economic studies to describe the segment of the population that is engaged in or available for work, typically within a defined age range.

• The working population is aging, posing challenges for pension systems.
• Policies need to address the needs of the working population.