a big workforce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a big workforce" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a large number of employees or workers in a particular organization or industry. Example: "The company has invested heavily in technology to manage its big workforce more efficiently."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"This is a big workforce and it's growing.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Torben Tranaes, a professor of welfare economics in Copenhagen, calls this "the most effective cure to get a bigger workforce".

The Economist

The bank's economists first calculated how much growth was explained by a bigger workforce and how much by more plant.

The Economist

As the country developed its health care infrastructure, it needed a bigger workforce.

Human Resources for Health

Such a strategy could succeed only if the country produced a big enough workforce at least to meet the new demand for workforce (necessitated by the expansion or upgrading of the health care infrastructure).

Human Resources for Health

HEE said its responsibility is to ensure the NHS has a big enough workforce in the future, and also to help employers relieve current shortages.

The Guardian

For example, one outsourcing vendor, Cognizant, with a CEO of Indian origin and a big Indian workforce but headquarters in New Jersey, is currently taking market share from rivals such as Infosys.

The Economist

"But the second phase will last 20 years, and we'll need a much bigger workforce for that".

BBC

Most people's chief candidate for a bigger immigrant workforce has been health care, where a government desperate to reduce state medical costs ought to welcome cheaper Filipina nurses with open arms.

The Economist

"Retail, manufacturing, healthcare: there are big workforces where people stand a lot".

Independent

"The biggest workforce in America can't put food on the table except when they go to work," says Saru Jayaraman, Co-Founder of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United (ROC-U).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a big workforce", consider quantifying the size if possible (e.g., "a workforce of over 10,000 employees") to add precision.

Common error

Avoid using "a big workforce" without specifying the industry, sector, or company involved. Providing context enhances clarity and relevance.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a big workforce" functions as a descriptive noun phrase. It typically modifies a noun or serves as a subject complement, characterizing the size of a workforce. Ludwig provides several examples where this phrase is used to describe the scale of employment in various sectors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a big workforce" is a descriptive phrase used to indicate a large number of employees or workers, as verified by Ludwig. It is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific publications. While "big" is slightly informal, the phrase is acceptable in professional and neutral settings. When using this phrase, consider quantifying the size and providing relevant context to enhance clarity and impact. Furthermore, Ludwig's examples showcase the diverse applications of this phrase across different industries and organizational contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a large labor pool

Emphasizes the availability of workers, focusing on the supply side.

a substantial employee base

Highlights the number of employees within a company or organization.

an extensive working population

Focuses on the broad demographic group engaged in work.

a numerous team of workers

Highlights the collaborative aspect of a large workforce.

a sizable group of employees

Simple alternative emphasizing the size of the employee group.

a considerable staff

Focuses on the aggregated personnel resources.

a widespread labor force

Focuses on geographical coverage and dispersion.

an ample body of workers

Emphasizes sufficiency in the number of workers.

a plentiful supply of labor

Highlights the abundance and availability of workers.

a massive group of personnel

Indicates an extremely large number of workers.

FAQs

What does "a big workforce" mean?

The phrase "a big workforce" refers to a large number of people employed by a company, industry, or country. It emphasizes the scale of human resources available for work.

What can I say instead of "a big workforce"?

You can use alternatives like "a large labor pool", "a substantial employee base", or "an extensive working population" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "a large workforce" or "a big workforce"?

Both "a large workforce" and "a big workforce" are grammatically correct and widely understood. "Large" is generally considered more formal, while "big" is more informal. Choose the word that best suits the tone of your writing.

How does the size of the workforce affect a company?

The size of the workforce can significantly impact a company's productivity, innovation, and overall success. Managing "a substantial employee base" requires effective human resources practices and strategic planning.