a cheap workforce

USAGE SUMMARY

"a cheap workforce" can be used in written English.
It is typically used to refer to inexpensive labor, often from low wage workers. For example, "Manufacturers have been turning to countries with a cheap workforce to increase their profit margins."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

A cheap workforce is drawing Chinese and Turkish investors.

The Economist

"It's trying to change the southern countries into a cheap workforce, without rights or legal or work security.

The Guardian

"In many disciplines, doctoral students may be enrolled in high numbers, offering a cheap workforce," Ioannidis and his co-authors write in their paper.

Science Magazine

"They're a cheap workforce".

Vice

We needed a cheap workforce for our agricultural industry – especially tobacco and cotton.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Should Boeing build the 7E7 in Texas (one state being talked about), it would find cheaper land, a cheaper workforce and much less traffic.

The Economist

The CWU fears the possible franchising of individual offices or delivery rounds, as well as the potential introduction of a cheaper workforce on two-tier terms and conditions.

BBC

The only logical conclusion derived from such philosophy is to assume that optimally a cheaper workforce is good for business, and hence the ideal workforce would be one that costs as little as possible or nothing at all.

Huffington Post

More foreign retailers are entering Britain, attracted by a relatively cheap workforce, a strong economy and a fashion-conscious capital city.

The Economist

For instance, Vietnam is often indicated as the next China, since it has a very cheap workforce (its per capita income is less than a third of China's).

European Transport Research Review

Yet we're also a very cheap workforce, and some of my colleagues have shown understandable reluctance to make demands of the university that they hope may employ them on a better wage in the future.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting on governmental policies, use "a cheap workforce" to describe how policies encourage companies to relocate to certain regions.

Common error

While "a cheap workforce" is direct, it can sound dismissive. Be mindful of the context and consider using alternatives like "affordable labor" or "cost-effective personnel" to avoid unintended negative implications.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cheap workforce" functions as a noun phrase, where "cheap" modifies the noun "workforce". As shown by Ludwig, it is used to describe a labor force that is available at a low cost.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a cheap workforce" is a noun phrase used to describe a labor pool characterized by low wages. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage in news and media when discussing economic factors. While direct, it's important to be aware of potential negative connotations, suggesting that considering alternatives like "affordable labor" may be appropriate in some contexts. Best practice involves awareness of the social implications of portraying workers solely as a cost factor.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inexpensive labor pool

Replaces "cheap" with "inexpensive" and "workforce" with "labor pool", offering a more formal tone.

low-cost labor

Uses "low-cost" instead of "cheap", focusing on the cost aspect of labor.

affordable workers

Replaces "workforce" with "workers" and "cheap" with "affordable", emphasizing individual workers.

economical labor source

Replaces "cheap" with "economical" and "workforce" with "labor source", sounding more business-oriented.

budget-friendly personnel

Uses "budget-friendly" and "personnel" for a less direct description.

low-wage employees

Focuses specifically on the wage aspect of the workforce.

moderately priced staff

Offers a milder, less critical tone using "moderately priced".

cost-effective manpower

Replaces "workforce" with "manpower", and "cheap" with "cost-effective" giving the phrase a different feel.

competitively priced labor

Highlights the competitive aspect of pricing in the labor market.

reasonable cost workforce

Uses "reasonable cost" instead of "cheap", softening the connotation.

FAQs

What does "a cheap workforce" mean?

The phrase "a cheap workforce" refers to a group of workers who are employed at low wages, often in regions or countries with lower costs of living or less stringent labor regulations.

What are some alternative ways to say "a cheap workforce"?

You can use alternatives like "inexpensive labor pool", "low-cost labor", or "affordable workers" depending on the context and desired tone.

Is it ethical to refer to a workforce as "cheap"?

While economically descriptive, referring to a workforce as "cheap" can be viewed as insensitive, as it focuses solely on cost rather than the value and contributions of the workers. Consider using less pejorative terms.

How does the availability of "a cheap workforce" impact global economics?

The availability of "a cheap workforce" can influence where companies choose to locate their operations, potentially boosting the economy of those regions while also raising concerns about labor standards and wage inequality.