IELTS Work Vocabulary

On this page you will find work vocabulary. These words will help you write, read and speak about the topic in the test.

A mix of common word forms with example sentences is provided, but make sure you do your own research on the words and practice using them.

At the bottom of the page you will find links to essays connected to work topics so you can see more work vocabulary in context. 

Annual Leave

Paid time off work granted to an employee to be used for vacation or personal reasons.

• Employees are entitled to 20 days of annual leave per year.
• She used her annual leave to go on a family trip.

Bonus

An extra payment made to an employee in addition to their normal salary, often as a reward for good performance.

• He received a generous bonus at the end of the year.
• Bonuses are usually given to employees who exceed their targets.

Career

Working life or a particular job during one's working life that gets better in terms of salary and position.

• He is retired now but he had an amazing career.
• He hopes to have a career in the army.

Colleagues

People you work with, especially in a professional setting.

• She enjoys working with her colleagues because they are supportive.
• His colleagues organized a surprise party for his birthday.

Commute

To make the same journey regularly between work and home.

• It is taking longer for people to commute to work because of traffic problems.
• Commuting to work every day by bus is tiring.

Dismiss 

To remove someone from their job, especially because they have done something wrong. 'Fire' and 'sack' are the informal terms.

• He was dismissed because he was late for work every day.

Employee

Someone who is paid to work for someone else.

• The company has several hundred employees.

Employer

A person or organization that employs people.

• Employers monitor their employees very carefully these days.

Employment

When someone is paid to work for a company or organization.

• Due to the recession, there are thousands of people looking for employment.
• I was employed in the company for several years.

Entrepreneur

Someone who starts their own business, especially when this involves financial risks.

• The entrepreneur founded a tech company that is now worth millions.
• Entrepreneurs need to be resilient and innovative.

Flexi-time

Working a fixed number of hours but having flexibility with start and finish times.

• They have introduced flexitime at my workplace so I usually start at 10am now and finish at 6pm.

Internship

A temporary position with an emphasis on on-the-job training rather than employment.

• She completed an internship at a law firm during the summer.
• Internships often provide valuable work experience for students.

Job Description

A detailed outline of the tasks, responsibilities, and expectations of a job role.

• Before applying, check if the job description matches your skills.
• The job description clearly stated the need for strong communication skills.

Maternity or Paternity Pay

Money paid to employees when they are away from work due to having a baby.

• She is on maternity leave and is receiving maternity pay from her employer.
• Fathers are entitled to paternity pay for a certain period after the birth of their child.

Minimum Wage

The lowest amount of money that an employer is legally allowed to pay their employees. The minimum level is set in law by a government.

• Many workers are campaigning for an increase in the minimum wage.
• He earns the minimum wage but finds it hard to cover his living expenses.

Occupation

Formal way to say 'job'.

• What is your occupation?

Overtime

Working more than your contracted hours.

• The employees often work overtime but they are not given extra money, so it is not fair.

Private Sector

Businesses and industries that are privately owned.

• Most graduates hope to work in the private sector when they finish university as there are more opportunities and the pay is better than the public sector.

Probation Period

A trial period during which an employee's performance is evaluated before confirming permanent employment.

• During the probation period, employees must demonstrate their ability to meet job requirements.
• He was let go after the probation period because he failed to meet expectations.

Profession

Any type of work which needs special training or a particular skill, often one which is respected because it involves a high level of education.

• The teaching profession is not as good as it used to be because salaries have decreased.

Public Sector

Businesses and industries that are owned or controlled by the government.

• You get a good pension if you work for the public sector, but the salary is not always so good.

Redundancy

When an employer reduces their workforce because a job is no longer necessary.

• The company announced redundancies due to the economic downturn.
• He lost his job through redundancy and is now seeking new employment.

Resign

To leave a job. 'Quit' is the informal word.

• He resigned from his job yesterday.
• Don't quit your job unless you have another one to start.

Retire

To stop working because of old age or ill health.

• The retirement age in most countries is 65.
• He had to retire early due to ill health.

Salary or Wages

Money paid each month to an employee for their work.

• Public sector salaries are not keeping up with inflation.
• He receives a good wage because he works for a prestigious company.

Shift

The time worked in a job that is not normal hours.

• She is a nurse so she has to work in shifts. One week she does the morning shift, and then the next week she will do the night shift.
• Shift work can be very tiring.

Sick Pay

Money paid to an employee who is unable to work due to illness.

• The company offers sick pay for up to six months.
• He is on sick leave but still receives full sick pay.

Steady Job

A job that is reliable and secure over a long period.

• He’s been in a steady job for 10 years and enjoys the stability.
• Many people prefer a steady job over short-term contracts.

Teamwork

The ability to work effectively with others to achieve a common goal.

• Teamwork is essential for the success of most projects.
• Effective teamwork requires good communication and trust.

Unemployment

The state of not working when one is of working age and seeking work.

• Levels of unemployment in the economy have been rapidly increasing.
• He has been unemployed for 6 months now.

Vacancy

A job position that is not filled and so is available.

• I spoke to the company and they said they had several vacancies.

Work-Life Balance

The ability to manage work responsibilities alongside personal and family life.

• Companies that promote work-life balance often have happier employees.
• Working from home can improve your work-life balance.

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