breakdown of staff

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "breakdown of staff" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation in which a business or organization has an insufficient number of staff members for the tasks it needs to complete. For example, "Due to budget constraints, the company faced a breakdown of staff that caused a delay in completing the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Although no data is available on the gender, ethnicity, age and disability breakdown of staff on hourly paid and zero-hour contracts – little data is available on casualisation at all, in fact – the effects are clear.

The Guardian

A breakdown of staff numbers showed that Clarence House and Prince Charles's country home in Gloucestershire, Highgrove, employed the equivalent of 135 staff, including 19 gardeners and estate workers, eight press officers, 10 housekeepers, three chauffeurs, two valets and a butler.

Independent

Figure 3 shows a breakdown of staff numbers by grade.

Disability and Rehabilitation

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

A breakdown of staffing is given in Table V.

Disability and Rehabilitation

The downloadable spreadsheet contains data from the release including figures on prison population, sentences, victims of violence and breakdowns of staff by CJS agency.

The Guardian

Roland Watson and Rachel Sylvester in the Times (paywall) say that the Conservative vice chairman Alok Sharma wants big firms to have to publish details about the ethnic breakdown of their staff.

The Guardian

But a new battle rages, this one over whether companies should be required to disclose the gender and ethnic breakdown of their staff in their annual reports.The EHRC says it hopes its centrist position will enable it to broker compromises, but there are those who fear that it is simply fighting for the wrong side.

The Economist

The San Francisco-based company has been notably slow to release information about the gender and ethnic/racial breakdown of its staff.

Vice

The global activities map provides a breakdown of Duke faculty and staff members' research, teaching and expertise by country.

Duke University

But this is something else, a mass breakdown of the pitching staff.

The New York Times

With Connecticut schools struggling to provide an adequate, let alone excellent, education, it seems trivial to concern ourselves with the ethnic breakdown of the teaching staff ("White Faces at the Blackboard," June 11).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When presenting a "breakdown of staff", ensure you specify the criteria used for the breakdown, such as department, seniority, or demographics.

Common error

Avoid presenting a "breakdown of staff" without explaining its significance or relevance. Always provide context to help the audience understand the implications of the data.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "breakdown of staff" functions as a noun phrase, typically used as a subject or object in a sentence. It refers to a detailed analysis or categorization of employees within an organization. Ludwig provides examples showing its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "breakdown of staff" is a grammatically correct and usable noun phrase, typically referring to a detailed analysis or categorization of employees within an organization. While Ludwig indicates it's not extremely common, it appears in diverse contexts, including news, science, and academia. It's crucial to provide context when using this phrase to ensure clarity and relevance. Alternatives like "staff composition analysis" or "personnel distribution" might be suitable depending on the specific meaning you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Staff composition analysis

Focuses on the analytical aspect of understanding the workforce structure.

Personnel allocation breakdown

Specifies how staff are assigned to different tasks or projects.

Personnel distribution

Emphasizes how employees are spread across different departments or locations.

Workforce segmentation

Highlights the division of the workforce into distinct groups based on various criteria.

Employee demographics report

Emphasizes a formal report detailing the demographic makeup of the employees.

Staff demographic overview

Indicates a summary of the demographic attributes of the staff.

Organizational chart of staff

Describes the structure or hierarchy of staff members in an organization.

Employee categorization

Focuses on grouping employees based on specific characteristics or roles.

Staffing profile

Highlights the overall attributes and characteristics of staff members.

Headcount distribution

Specifically refers to the numerical allocation of staff.

FAQs

How can I use the phrase "breakdown of staff" in a sentence?

You can use "breakdown of staff" to describe the composition of a workforce, as in: "The report included a detailed breakdown of staff by department and experience level."

What does a "breakdown of staff" typically include?

A "breakdown of staff" often includes categories such as department, job title, gender, ethnicity, and years of service, providing a comprehensive overview of the workforce's composition.

What are some alternatives to "breakdown of staff"?

Alternatives include phrases like "staff composition analysis", "personnel distribution", or "workforce segmentation", depending on the specific context.

Why is it important to have a clear "breakdown of staff"?

A clear "breakdown of staff" helps organizations understand their workforce demographics, identify potential areas for improvement in diversity and inclusion, and make informed decisions about staffing and resource allocation.