a workforce

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a workforce" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to the group of people who are employed or available for employment in a particular organization or industry. Here are some examples of how it can be used: - Our company is looking to expand its workforce by hiring new employees. - The manufacturing sector is facing a shortage of skilled workers, causing a decline in productivity. - The government is implementing new policies to support and protect the rights of its workforce. - A diverse workforce can bring fresh perspectives and ideas to the table. - The company's workforce is made up of employees from various backgrounds and cultures.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Do we still have a workforce?

The New York Times

We are a workforce driven by passion, intelligence and determination.

The Guardian

Australia, for example, has created a Workforce and Productivity Agency.

The Economist

The Kaiserslautern plant has a workforce of 2,500.

The New York Times

The better you treat a workforce, the better they work.

Independent

They leave a workforce who probably spend much of their working lives at the business.

The Guardian

They'd trained a workforce and disciplined it in the rhythms of industrial life.

The Guardian - Books

Never knowingly undersold is a weak motto unless it includes never knowingly underpaying a workforce.

The Guardian - Opinion

At its height, GEC consisted of 180 companies and had a workforce of 250,000.

The Guardian - Business

We are just a workforce, even though many people have never lived anywhere else.

The Guardian

That presents a workforce challenge for the UK – it means training more GPs.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the characteristics of "a workforce", be specific about their skills, demographics, or roles. This adds clarity and depth to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using singular verbs or pronouns when referring to "a workforce" as a collective noun. Ensure that your verb choices reflect the group as a whole (e.g., "The workforce is dedicated" rather than "The workforce are dedicated", which is acceptable in British English).

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a workforce" functions primarily as a noun phrase. It identifies and refers to a group of people who are employed or available for work. Ludwig AI indicates this is a correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a workforce" is a common and grammatically sound way to refer to a group of people who are available for or engaged in work. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, predominantly in news and media, science, and formal business settings. While predominantly neutral in register, its specific meaning can shift depending on the modifier used to describe the group in question. When using this term, it's important to ensure proper subject-verb agreement and to tailor your language to the specific audience and context, focusing on the unique characteristics of the workforce you are describing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a labor force

Direct synonym, focusing on the labor aspect.

a working population

Highlights the segment of the population that is employed.

a group of employees

More specific, referring to those employed by a particular entity.

a team of workers

Emphasizes collaboration and teamwork within the workforce.

a staff

A more general term for the personnel of an organization.

a company's personnel

More formal and specific to a company.

a human resources pool

Focuses on the workforce as a resource.

a set of laborers

Emphasizes manual labor.

a body of operatives

Formal term, often used in manufacturing contexts.

a cadre of professionals

Refers to a skilled or trained workforce.

FAQs

How can I use "a workforce" in a sentence?

You can use "a workforce" to describe the group of people who work for a particular company, industry, or country. For instance, "The company is investing in training programs to improve the skills of "a workforce".".

What are some synonyms for "a workforce"?

Some alternatives to "a workforce" include "a labor force", "a working population", or "a staff", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the workforce are" instead of "the workforce is"?

In American English, "the workforce is" is generally preferred because "workforce" is treated as a singular collective noun. In British English, "the workforce are" is also acceptable when emphasizing the individual members of the group.

What is the difference between "a workforce" and "personnel"?

"A workforce" refers to all the people engaged in work, while "personnel" typically refers to the staff employed by a specific organization. While there's overlap, "personnel" is more specific to an organization's employees.