overseas workers

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overseas workers" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to individuals who work in a country other than their home country, often in the context of employment or labor discussions. Example: "The company is looking to hire overseas workers to fill the labor shortage in the local market."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The Philippine economy relies on remittances from overseas workers.

The New York Times

Overseas workers were a crucial segment of Duterte's supporters.

The New Yorker

We recruit overseas workers at a great rate.

The Guardian - Opinion

Students have been campaigning alongside overseas workers as part of the "3 Cosas Campaign" meaning "3 Things" in Spanish, the language spoken by the majority of overseas workers.

Independent

The report credited the Philippine government with working to increase protections of its overseas workers.

The New York Times

Overseas workers, for example, are exempted from airport fees and other travel taxes.

The Economist

In the Pulong Lupa neighborhood, about half of the houses belong to absent overseas workers.

The New York Times

The system blocks domestic competition for overseas workers in the Gulf countries.

The Economist

Within these companies, their foreign payrolls grew 1.5 percent, to 11 million overseas workers.

The New York Times

Local land prices skyrocket as cash flows in from overseas workers.

The New York Times

Additionally, companies can exclude 5% of their overseas workers when calculating the median employee.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "overseas workers", consider specifying the country or region they are from or working in to provide more context and avoid generalizations. For example, "Filipino overseas workers in Saudi Arabia".

Common error

Avoid using "overseas workers" when referring to highly skilled professionals or managers on international assignments. The term "expatriates" is more appropriate in those contexts. "Overseas workers" is generally used for labor or service roles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overseas workers" functions primarily as a noun phrase. Ludwig AI confirms it refers to a group of people who are working in a country other than their own. As a noun phrase, it can act as a subject, object, or complement in a sentence. For example: "Overseas workers contribute significantly to the economy."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "overseas workers" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe individuals working in a country other than their own. Ludwig AI confirms this, and the phrase's frequent appearance in news media underscores its relevance in discussions about labor, economics, and immigration. While semantically similar phrases like "foreign laborers" or "expatriate employees" exist, the choice depends on the specific context and nuance desired. When using the phrase, it's crucial to consider specifying the workers' origin or destination for clarity and avoid generalizations. A key distinction to remember is that "overseas workers" generally refers to labor or service roles, while "expatriates" often describes highly skilled professionals on international assignments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

expatriate employees

Replaces "workers" with "employees" and uses "expatriate" to emphasize living outside one's native country.

foreign laborers

Substitutes "workers" with "laborers" and "overseas" with "foreign", focusing on manual labor aspects.

migrant workforce

Uses "workforce" to refer to the group of workers and "migrant" to highlight the relocation aspect.

international staff

Emphasizes the global aspect of the workforce by using "international" and replaces "workers" with "staff".

offshore personnel

Employs "offshore" indicating a location away from the home country and substitutes "workers" with the more formal "personnel".

international assignees

Focuses on the assignment aspect of working abroad, using the term "assignees".

global employees

Highlights the worldwide scope of employment by using "global" and substitutes "workers" with "employees".

immigrant employees

Replaces "workers" with "employees" and uses "immigrant" to emphasize immigration aspect.

work abroad

This refers to the action of working in a foreign country. It's a verb phrase and not a noun phrase like "overseas workers".

workers abroad

Rearranges the words but retains the core meaning, keeping it simple and direct.

FAQs

What is the difference between "overseas workers" and "foreign workers"?

The terms "overseas workers" and "foreign workers" are often used interchangeably, but "overseas workers" specifically implies that the workers have crossed an ocean or sea to work in another country. "Foreign workers" is a broader term that simply means workers who are not citizens of the country they are working in.

What are some common industries that employ "overseas workers"?

"Overseas workers" are employed in a variety of industries, including agriculture, construction, healthcare, hospitality, and technology. The specific industries vary depending on the country and its labor needs.

How can I ensure fair treatment of "overseas workers" in my company?

Ensure compliance with all labor laws and regulations, provide clear contracts outlining wages, working conditions, and benefits, offer language and cultural support, and establish channels for reporting grievances without fear of retaliation. Additionally, promote cultural sensitivity and understanding among all employees.

Are there any government programs that support "overseas workers"?

Some governments offer programs to protect and support their citizens working abroad, including consular services, legal assistance, and repatriation assistance. These programs vary by country, and it's important to research the specific programs available to "overseas workers" from your country.