worker

worker
work‧er S2 W1 /ˈwɜːkə $ ˈwɜːrkər/ noun [countable]1. someone who does a job, especially a particular type of job:
    workers in the tourist industry
    reports from local aid workers ⇨ guest worker, social worker
2. [usually plural] someone who works in an organization and who is not a manager:
    conflicts between workers and management
    attacks on workers’ rights
3. good/hard/quick etc worker someone who works very well or quickly
4. the workers the members of the working class:
    the workers’ revolution
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + worker
   ▪ a skilled worker (=one who has special skills) There is a shortage of skilled workers.
   ▪ an unskilled worker Some ex-miners now had jobs as unskilled workers in factories.
   ▪ a part-time worker A high percentage of the female staff were part-time workers.
   ▪ a full-time worker The bureau has only two full-time workers.
   ▪ a temporary/casual worker (=working somewhere for a limited period of time) Employees were fired and replaced with temporary workers.
   ▪ a manual/blue-collar worker (=someone who does physical work) Manual workers often live close to their workplace.
   ▪ a white-collar worker (=someone who works in an office, a bank etc) In the past, white-collar workers tended to work for one company for a long time, rather than changing jobs.
   ▪ a low-paid worker As part-time, low-paid workers, many women earned very little.
   ▪ a factory/farm/office worker Factory workers threatened strikes.
   ▪ a research/rescue/health etc worker Rescue workers searched the rubble all night looking for survivors.
   ▪ a construction worker (=someone who builds buildings, bridges etc)
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ worker someone who does a particular type of job, or someone who works for an organization but is not a manager: a post-office worker | The workers are threatening to go on strike. | The report shows that male manual workers earn twice as much as female workers.
   ▪ employee someone who has a job, especially a permanent job, with a particular company or organization: Employees of the airline get generous reductions on the cost of flights.
   ▪ member of staff/staff member one of the people who work for a company, organization, school etc - used especially in official contexts: Training opportunities are available to all members of staff. | Several staff members complained about his increasing strange behaviour.
   ▪ colleague (also coworker especially American English) someone you work with – use this especially about people who do professional jobs in offices, schools etc: I’d like you to meet a colleague of mine, Jean-Michel Blanc. | What should you do if a co-worker is injured?
   ▪ workforce all the people that work in a country, industry, or large organization: Women make up 41% of the workforce.
   ▪ staff all the people who work in a company, organization, school etc: The staff were clearly worried about rumours of job losses. | sales staff