workforce
/ˈwɝk.foɹs/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: workforces
Sense 1
Meaning · English
All the workers employed by a specific organization or state, or on a specific project.
Noun
Examples
The rail sector's ageing workforce (28% of workers are over 50 years old) means that about 15,000 people could retire from the industry by 2025.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
The total population of a country or region that is employed or employable.
Noun
Examples
“There is no question the US economy will get smaller as you deport a lot of the workforce,” Kent Smetters, professor of business economics and public policy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, said in an interview.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “workforce” mean?
All the workers employed by a specific organization or state, or on a specific project.
Is “workforce” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.