a work force

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a work force" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the group of individuals engaged in a particular task or employed by an organization. Example: "The company is looking to expand its work force to meet the increasing demand for its products."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

But as a work force, we should.

The New York Times - Magazine

A work force that can't write or make change?

The New York Times

G.M. has a work force of 18,000 in Brazil.

The New York Times

It asserted it had a work force of 53,000.

The New York Times

Rio Tinto has a work force of 112,000.

The New York Times

"You have a work force that makes $8.78 an hour.

The New York Times

Now there are around 144,000 in a work force of 5.1 million.

The New York Times

It has a work force of some 71,000, with slightly more than half in Italy.

The New York Times

They also don't know how big a work force they'll be trying to shelter.

The New York Times

Anecdotally, employers complain of a work force unsuited to their needs.

The New York Times

It has a work force of 3,800, in the United States and abroad.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing the size of an organization, specify the number of individuals in "a work force" for clarity and impact.

Common error

Refrain from making sweeping statements about the characteristics of "a work force" without supporting data or specific context. Overgeneralizations can lead to inaccurate representations and potentially biased viewpoints.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a work force" primarily functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It refers to the collective group of individuals engaged in labor or employment, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

17%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a work force" is a commonly used noun phrase that refers to the group of people engaged in labor or employment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and suitability for various contexts. Predominantly found in news and business media, this phrase serves to describe, quantify, or characterize the personnel within an organization or industry. While alternatives like "the labor pool" or "the employee base" exist, "a work force" remains a clear and widely understood term. Remember to avoid generalizations and provide specific details when discussing "a work force" to maintain accuracy and avoid potential biases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the labor pool

Focuses on the availability of workers for employment.

the employee base

Highlights the employees that form the basis of a company or organization.

a body of workers

Emphasizes a collective group engaged in labor.

the manpower resources

Highlights the availability of human resources for work.

a group of employees

A more general term for people working for an organization.

the personnel

Focuses on the staff or individuals employed by an organization.

the human capital

Emphasizes the skills and knowledge that workers bring to the workplace.

the staff complement

Refers to the complete number of employees needed or employed.

a team of laborers

Highlights the collaborative nature of workers.

the working population

Refers to the segment of the population that is employed or seeking employment.

FAQs

How can I use "a work force" in a sentence?

You can use "a work force" to refer to the group of people who work for a specific company or industry. For example, "The company is investing in training to improve the skills of "a work force"."

What are some alternatives to using "a work force"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "the labor pool", "the employee base", or "a body of workers".

Is it correct to say "work force" or "workforce"?

Both "work force" (two words) and "workforce" (one word) are commonly used. However, "workforce" is often preferred as a single-word compound noun. The usage of "a work force" is also correct when referring to a group.

What is the difference between "a work force" and "human capital"?

"A work force" refers to the group of people who are employed, while "human capital" refers to the skills, knowledge, and experience possessed by those workers. "A work force" is the people, human capital is what they bring to the job.