employment

noun

em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce employment (audio)
1
2
a
: activity in which one engages or is employed
seeking gainful employment
b
: an instance of such activity
c
: the extent or degree to which a labor force is employed
Employment is high.
3
: the act of employing : the state of being employed
employment of a pen in sketching
Choose the Right Synonym for employment

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of employment in a Sentence

laws that have encouraged the employment of women I've been looking for employment in the machine trade. The new factory should provide employment for hundreds of workers. unskilled workers trying to find paid employment She hopes to find employment as a teacher. The magazine did well during the course of her employment as editor. Employment is at an all-time high in this part of the state. The city is faced with inadequate housing and a lack of employment.
Recent Examples on the Web There’s also the question of what AI and the tech markets mean for employment. R. Scott Raynovich, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 However, while the massive number of idle machinists and the ripple effects of two major hurricanes are expected to temporarily distort what’s been a solid pace of employment growth, the final jobs report before the election isn’t expected to be as dour as once thought, economists say. Alicia Wallace, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024 At the same time, prices remain stubbornly high—as does the bar for getting a foot in the door of employment. Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 Giving an introduction at the event was Suzan G. LeVine, a former U.S. ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, who also did a brief stint in 2021 as President Joe Biden’s assistant secretary for employment and training. Gabe Kaminsky, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for employment 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'employment.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English employement "expenditure of funds," from emploien "to apply to a task, employ entry 1" + -ment -ment

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of employment was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near employment

Cite this Entry

“Employment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/employment. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

employment

noun
em·​ploy·​ment im-ˈplȯi-mənt How to pronounce employment (audio)
1
: use entry 1 sense 1a, purpose
also : the act of using
2
a
: the act of hiring a person for work
b
: the job for which one is hired : occupation
c
: the state of being employed
employment in the machine trade
d
: the relative number of persons in a labor force who are employed
employment is high

Legal Definition

employment

noun
em·​ploy·​ment
1
: an activity or service performed for another especially for compensation or as an occupation
2
: the act of employing : the state of being employed

More from Merriam-Webster on employment

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