available for work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "available for work" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is ready and willing to take on employment or job opportunities. Example: "After completing my studies, I am now available for work and eager to start my career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Saturdays now available for work, heterosexual intercourse.

The New Yorker

So, Mr Hutton, I'm making myself available for work.

The Guardian

Unemployed: Someone without a job, available for work and searching.

The New York Times

Other changes will make still more foreigners available for work.

The Economist

Facilities are available for work in electronic and computer music.

University of California, Berkeley

About one million lone parents are either in work or available for work.

The Guardian - Business

The fall in injuries also raises the supply of labor available for work.

The New York Times

People who are jobless, looking for a job and available for work are unemployed.

The Washington Post

In many local authorities interns are classified as "not available for work" and cannot claim jobseeker's allowance.

The Guardian - Money

The remainder were either not looking for work or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive.

The Guardian

The remainder were either not looking for work and/or not available for work and therefore classified as economically inactive".

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing your employment status, use "available for work" to clearly communicate your readiness to start a job or project. This phrase is widely understood and professionally appropriate.

Common error

While "available for work" is versatile, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "free" or "ready" when discussing availability with friends or family. Overuse in informal settings can sound overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "available for work" functions primarily as a descriptor, indicating a state of readiness and accessibility for employment or specific tasks. Ludwig examples showcase its role in defining labor force participation and eligibility for unemployment benefits.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Wiki

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "available for work" is a versatile and commonly used expression to denote readiness for employment. According to Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and functions as a descriptor in various contexts, primarily to inform others about one's availability. Its register ranges from neutral to professional, making it suitable for diverse settings, including news articles, business communications, and academic reports. While "available for work" is ubiquitous, it's essential to consider simpler alternatives in casual conversations to avoid sounding overly formal. The phrase is very common in News & Media, Formal & Business, Academia, Science and Wiki. Examples show that it's used to define labor force participation and unemployment benefits. Authoritative sources frequently using the phrase include The Guardian, The New York Times and Forbes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ready to work

This alternative is a more direct and concise way to state readiness for employment.

actively seeking employment

This is a more formal and emphatic version of 'seeking employment'.

job-ready

This is a more concise adjective describing someone prepared for work.

seeking employment

This phrase focuses on the action of looking for work, implying availability.

in the job market

This phrase emphasizes active participation in the employment sector.

on the lookout for work

This emphasizes a proactive search for employment.

open to opportunities

This alternative broadens the scope to include various types of opportunities, not just employment.

prepared to commence work

A formal alternative highlighting preparedness to begin working.

ready to start

This short phrase is a more casual way to express immediate availability.

potential candidate

Suggests availability while also indicating suitability for a position.

FAQs

How is the phrase "available for work" used in defining unemployment?

In labor statistics, "available for work" is a key criterion. To be classified as unemployed, individuals must be without a job, actively seeking work, and "available for work".

What are some alternatives to "available for work" in a cover letter?

In a cover letter, you can use phrases like "seeking employment", "ready to work", or "open to opportunities" instead of "available for work" to showcase your job readiness.

Is it better to say "available for work" or "available to work"?

While both are understandable, "available for work" is more commonly used and grammatically preferred in contexts related to employment and labor force participation. "Available to work" is acceptable but less idiomatic.

How does being "available for work" relate to unemployment benefits?

To qualify for unemployment benefits, recipients generally need to demonstrate that they are able and "available for work", meaning they are ready and willing to accept suitable employment.