Translation guide
The total number of people employed or seeking employment in a country or area. In Japanese, this is expressed with specific terms that distinguish between the workforce as a statistical concept, the people engaged in labor, and the available labor pool.
The total number of people employed or unemployed but actively seeking work, as used in economics and government statistics.
The standard term for 'labor force' in economic and statistical contexts. Refers to the total supply of labor available for producing goods and services.
Japan's labor force population is on a declining trend.
According to the labor force survey, the unemployment rate improved.
Specifically 'labor force population', often used in official statistics to refer to the number of people aged 15 and over who are employed or unemployed.
The labor force population decreased compared to the previous year.
The actual people who are working, often in a specific industry or company, or the collective body of workers.
Refers to 'workers' or 'laborers' as individuals. Can be used for the workforce in general, but often implies blue-collar or manual workers.
Many workers are working in the factory.
A more general and slightly informal term for 'breadwinner' or 'worker', emphasizing the person who works to support a household or economy.
Refers to 'employees' of a particular company or organization. Not a direct translation of 'labor force' but used when talking about the workforce of a specific entity.
The supply of workers available for hire, often discussed in terms of shortages or surpluses.
労働力 is the formal economic term for 'labor force', used in statistics and policy. 人手 is everyday language for 'manpower' or 'workers available', often used when discussing shortages. Use 労働力 for academic or official contexts, and 人手 for casual or business conversations about needing more people.
Securing the labor force is a challenge.
We're short on hands.
Do not translate 'labor force' word-for-word as 労働の力 or similar. That would be unnatural and not understood. Use the terms above depending on context.
The acceptance of foreign workers has been expanded.
The family's breadwinner lost their job.
This company has over a thousand employees.
Similar to 労働力人口 but sometimes used more broadly for the working-age population. Can overlap with 'labor force' in demographic discussions.
The working population is declining due to the aging society.