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Economics vocabulary · Jobs and Unemployment

Labour force

Meaning in economics, with examples

nounCore term

In economics, labour force means: All the people who are either working or unemployed but actively looking for work; students, retirees and others not seeking jobs are left out.

In Turkish: işgücü

How it is used

A statistical term used in labour surveys: the unemployment rate is the share of the labour force without a job. People join, enter or leave the labour force. It is spelled labor force in American English; workforce is a common synonym in general English.

Example sentences

  1. The labour force grew by 500,000 people last year as more women entered work.

  2. Retired people and full-time students are not part of the labour force.

Common collocations

  • join the labour force
  • the labour force survey
  • share of the labour force
  • a skilled labour force
  • unemploymentThe situation of people who have no job but are available for work and actively looking for one; also the number or share of such people.
  • participation rateThe share of the working-age population that is in the labour force, meaning people who are either working or actively looking for work.
  • labour marketThe market in which workers offer their time and skills and employers hire them, setting the level of employment and wages.
  • human capitalThe knowledge, skills, health and experience of workers, seen as an asset that raises productivity and income in the same way as machines or buildings.

More terms: Jobs and Unemployment

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not financial advice.