German word

Arbeitskraft

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʁbaɪ̯tsˌkʁaft/

Meaning

  • feminine nounworker

Example

Am Wochenende fehlt der Bäckerei oft eine Arbeitskraft.

The bakery often lacks a worker on weekends.

Illustration for Arbeitskraft (worker)

More examples

Die Firma will den Mangel an Arbeitskräften durch Weiterbildung und Rekrutierung beheben.

The company wants to remedy the shortage of workers through training and recruitment.

Core concept

A person whose capacity to work is counted as one unit, or the combined supply of such workers.

Common phrases

  • Bedarf an Arbeitskräften

    demand for workers

  • in Arbeitskräfte investieren

    invest in workers

  • Arbeitskräfte mobilisieren

    mobilize workers

Similar words

Mitarbeiter: A staff member employed by an organization.
Kollege: A fellow worker in the same workplace or team.
Arbeitnehmer: A person engaged to work for an employer under contract.

Definition in German

Formeller Ausdruck für eine arbeitende Person oder für die in einem Unternehmen bzw. einer Volkswirtschaft verfügbare Arbeitsmenge.

Word origin

Arbeitskraft combines Arbeit ('work') with Kraft ('strength' or 'power'), forming a compound for the capacity to work.

Usage tips

  • Arbeitskraft is formal, while Mitarbeiter or Kollege usually fits an ordinary workplace reference to a person.

Other meanings

  • workforcenoun

Related words

  • Arbeitskräftebedarfworkforce demandnoun
  • Arbeitskraftreserveworkforce reservenoun

Word lists with this word