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Meaning & use

labor pool

noun·AdvancedbusinessAmerican

Last updated

UK/ˈleɪbə puːl/
US/ˈleɪbər puːl/

Meanings

  1. nouncountablebusiness

    The group of people available to be hired for work in a particular area or with particular skills.

    Grammar: Used with 'a' or in the plural: 'a large labor pool', 'labor pools are shrinking'.

    Patterns

    • a labor pool of something
    • the labor pool for something
    • expand the labor pool

    The company moved its factory to a region with a larger labor pool.

    An aging population means the labor pool is getting smaller.

    Tech firms compete for the same limited labor pool.

  2. nouncountablebusiness

    The total number of workers that an organization or economy can call on at a given time.

    Grammar: Often used with 'the' to refer to a specific group: 'the labor pool in manufacturing'.

    Patterns

    • the labor pool in an industry
    • draw on a labor pool

    The labor pool in construction has grown thanks to new training programs.

    Employers are drawing on a wider labor pool by offering remote work.

Word forms

plurallabor pools

Common combinations

a large labor pool
The city offers a large labor pool for new businesses.
a skilled labor pool
The region is known for its skilled labor pool.
expand the labor pool
The government hopes to expand the labor pool by relaxing visa rules.
tap into a labor pool
Startups can tap into a global labor pool online.

Synonyms and how they differ

workforce
Workforce usually refers to the people already employed by a company or country, while labor pool refers to those available to be hired.
labor force
Labor force is broader and includes everyone working or looking for work, not just those available for a specific job or industry.
manpower
Manpower is an older term often used in military or industrial contexts; labor pool is more neutral and modern.

Word family

labor noun
Work, especially physical work; also the people who work.
pool noun
A shared supply of something that people can use.

Commonly confused: labor pool or labor force?

labor pool vs labor force

Labor force includes everyone working or actively seeking work, while labor pool refers to those available to fill jobs in a specific context.

Practice

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