enter the workforce

USAGE SUMMARY

'enter the workforce' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when talking about someone or a group of people beginning to work in a particular field or industry. For example, "Many young people are eager to enter the workforce and start their career."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Too few women enter the workforce and they have too few children.

The Guardian - Opinion

Many Indian graduates therefore enter the workforce with a low level of skills.

The New Yorker

Over 10m people a year will enter the workforce for the next decade.

The Economist

He argues this will allow more women to enter the workforce, thus improving economic growth.

Independent

But as fewer young people enter the workforce, wages are now rising faster than productivity.

The Economist

It is no surprise then that engineers struggle with divergent thinking when they enter the workforce.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

This leaves fewer opportunities for people to re-enter the workforce at higher levels.

The Economist

What resources would you recommend for someone looking to re-enter the workforce?

Duke University

This stigma frequently makes it difficult for them to enter or re-enter the workforce [ 13].

BMC International Health and Human Rights

About 35percentt enter the workforce joining health departments or NGOs.

Johns Hopkins University

Immigrants also take jobs that provide household services that allow spouses to re-enter the workforce.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "enter the workforce" when describing the initial transition from education or other activities into paid employment. It's suitable for discussing trends, policies, or individual experiences related to starting a career.

Common error

Avoid using "enter the workforce" when discussing job changes or promotions within an existing career. This phrase specifically refers to the initial entry into the working world, not subsequent career moves.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enter the workforce" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of beginning one's career or becoming part of the working population. Ludwig AI confirms its correct grammatical usage. It is often used to describe a transition from education or other activities into paid employment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

23%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enter the workforce" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe the transition into paid employment. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriate usage. It appears frequently in various contexts, including News & Media, Academia, Formal & Business writing and Science, signifying its broad applicability. Related phrases like "join the workforce" or "start one's career" offer similar meanings, while understanding the scope of the phrase helps avoid misuse. Ludwig examples show its prevalent use in discussions about education, economics and social trends related to employment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

join the workforce

This alternative replaces "enter" with "join", emphasizing integration into the working population.

re-enter the workforce

This specifies a return to work after a break.

enter the labor market

This alternative is more technical and economic-focused, referring to the broader system of employment.

begin working

This phrase uses simpler vocabulary, making it more accessible and less formal.

become employed

This option emphasizes the state of being employed, rather than the action of entering.

transition into the workforce

This option highlights the process of moving from one state (e.g., education) to employment.

start one's career

This alternative focuses on the beginning of a professional path, rather than just entering the workforce.

find employment

This phrase highlights the process of seeking and securing a job.

embark on a career

This phrase adds a sense of adventure and commitment to starting a career.

secure a position

This alternative focuses on obtaining a specific job or role.

FAQs

What does "enter the workforce" mean?

The phrase "enter the workforce" refers to the transition of individuals into paid employment, typically after completing education or other activities. It signifies the start of one's working life.

What can I say instead of "enter the workforce"?

You can use alternatives like "join the workforce", "begin working", or "start one's career" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "entered the workforce"?

Yes, "entered the workforce" is the past tense form of the phrase and is grammatically correct. It's used to describe someone who has already made the transition into paid employment.

How does "re-enter the workforce" differ from "enter the workforce"?

"Re-enter the workforce" specifically refers to individuals who are returning to work after a period of absence, such as parental leave or unemployment. "Enter the workforce" describes the initial entry into employment.