- 1 [uncountable, countable] work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed to be in paid employment full-time/part-time employment conditions/terms of employment Graduates are finding it more and more difficult to find employment. pensions from previous employments Synonymsworkemployment career profession occupation tradeThese are all words for the work that somebody does in return for payment, especially over a long period of time. work the job that somebody does, especially in order to earn money:It’s very difficult to find work at the moment.employment (rather formal) work, especially when it is done to earn money; the state of being employed or the situation in which people have work:Only half the people here are in paid employment.career the job or series of jobs that somebody has in a particular area of work, usually involving more responsibility as time passes:He had a very distinguished career in the Foreign Office.profession a type of job that needs special training or skill, especially one that needs a high level of education:He hopes to enter the medical profession. The profession is all the people who work in a particular profession:the legal profession. The professions are the traditional jobs that need a high level of education and training, such as being a doctor or lawyer.occupation (rather formal) a job or profession:Please state your name, age, and occupation.trade a job, especially one that involves working with your hands and requires special training and skills:Carpentry is a highly skilled trade.Patterns in/out of work/employment (a) full-time/part-time work/employment/career/occupation permanent/temporary work/employment (a) well-paid work/employment/profession/occupation (a) low-paid work/employment/occupation to look for/seek/find work/employment/a career/an occupation to get/obtain/give somebody/offer somebody/create/generate/provide work/employment CollocationsJobsGetting a job look for work look for/apply for/go for a job get/pick up/complete/fill out/ (British English) fill in an application (form) send/email your (British English) CV/(North American English) résumé/application/application form/covering letter be called for/have/attend an interview offer somebody a job/work/employment/promotion find/get/land a job employ/ (especially North American English) hire/recruit/ (especially British English) take on staff/workers/trainees recruit/appoint a managerDoing a job arrive at/get to/leave work/the office/the factory start/finish work/your shift do/put in/work overtime have/gain/get/lack/need experience/qualifications do/get/have/receive training learn/pick up/improve/develop (your) skills cope with/manage/share/spread the workload improve your/achieve a better work-life balance have (no) job satisfaction/job securityBuilding a career have a job/work/a career/a vocation find/follow/pursue/ (especially North American English) live (out) your vocation enter/go into/join a profession choose/embark on/start/begin/pursue a career change jobs/profession/career be/ (both especially British English) work/go freelance do/take on temp work/freelance work do/be engaged in/be involved in voluntary workLeaving your job leave/ (especially North American English) quit/resign from your job give up work/your job/your career hand in your notice/resignation plan to/be due to retire in June/next year, etc. take early retirement CollocationsUnemploymentLosing your job lose your job (British English) become/be made redundant be offered/take voluntary redundancy/early retirement face/be threatened with dismissal/(British English) the sack/(British English) compulsory redundancy dismiss/fire/ (especially British English) sack an employee/a worker/a manager lay off staff/workers/employees (Australian English, New Zealand English, South African English) retrench workers cut/reduce/downsize/slash the workforce (British English) make staff/workers/employees redundantBeing unemployed be unemployed/out of work/out of a job seek/look for work/employment be on/collect/draw/get/receive (both British English) unemployment benefit/jobseeker’s allowance be/go/live/sign (British English, informal) on the dole claim/draw/get (British English, informal) the dole be on/qualify for (North American English) unemployment (compensation) be/go/live/depend (North American English) on welfare collect/receive (North American English) welfare combat/tackle/cut/reduce unemployment Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivepaid, salaried, full-time, … … of employmentlevel verb + employmentlook for, seek, find, … employment + verbgrow, increase, rise, … employment + nounopportunities, options, possibilities, … prepositionin employment, out of employment phrasesconditions of employment, terms of employment, a contract of employment, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 2 [uncountable] the situation in which people have work The government is aiming at full employment. Changes in farming methods have badly affected employment in the area. opposite unemployment Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivepaid, salaried, full-time, … … of employmentlevel verb + employmentlook for, seek, find, … employment + verbgrow, increase, rise, … employment + nounopportunities, options, possibilities, … prepositionin employment, out of employment phrasesconditions of employment, terms of employment, a contract of employment, … See full entry See related entries: Economy
- 3[uncountable] the act of employing somebody The law prevented the employment of children under ten in the cotton mills. The expansion of the factory will mean the employment of sixty extra workers.
- 4[uncountable] employment (of something) (formal) the use of something the employment of artillery in the capture of the town Extra examples He took up employment with the company in May 2002. Interviewers will look carefully at a candidate’s employment history. Most of last year’s graduates are now in employment. One company terminated his employment after 30 days. She had been out of employment for three years. She lost her employment when the company closed. Steel making is the only local industry offering large-scale employment. The company was one of the first to offer meaningful employment to the blind. The company’s employment practices have been widely criticized. The employment picture is not good. The government aims to achieve full employment within three years. The steelworks provided employment for thousands of people. The survey studied the employment status and lifestyle of people within the community. There are few employment prospects in the town for unqualified young people. This investment will certainly create employment in the area. Union negotiate conditions of employment. a state-subsidized employment programme/program an area of very low employment graduates entering the employment market laws prohibiting employment discrimination policies aimed at maintaining a high level of employment policies designed to stimulate employment recent graduates seeking employment school-leavers entering the employment market significant changes in patterns of employment the government’s full-employment policy trade union concerns such as conditions of employment and health and safety Changes in employment practices have affected farming jobs in the area. Employment levels rose for the first time this year. I was put in touch with a local employment agency. It’s getting more and more difficult for young people to find regular employment. Measures have been taken to stimulate employment in the area. Please list any pension entitlement you have from previous employments. The employment market isn’t looking too good at the moment. The latest employment figures show a fall in the number of people who are out of work. The new employment legislation states that no-one should work more than 48 hours a week. Your conditions of employment should tell you how many days of sick leave you are entitled to.
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