Employment, Economy & Industry – Vocabulary Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering employment, labor law, diversity, economic terms, trade, automation, and modern workplace concepts from the lecture notes.

phenomenon

an observable fact or event

retirement age

the age at which a person is expected or allowed to stop working

campaign

an organized course of actions to achieve a goal

to raise someone’s awareness

to make someone more conscious of an issue

to provide information

to give facts or details

to combat something

to fight against or try to stop something

fair treatment

equitable and impartial behavior toward people

to incorporate something

to include or integrate something into a whole

Member State

a country that belongs to an international organization, e.g., the EU

to recruit

to find and hire new employees

pay rise

an increase in salary

promotion

advancement to a higher job position

dismissal

official termination of employment

access to something

ability or right to use or enter something

vocational training

education that prepares people for specific trades or crafts

to claim unfair dismissal

to assert that one’s firing was unjust

to discriminate against someone

to treat a person unfavorably because of personal characteristics

to victimize

to single out someone for cruel or unjust treatment

to prohibit something

to formally forbid something by law or rule

to make a complaint

to formally express dissatisfaction

to support someone

to back or assist another person

colleague

a co-worker or professional peer

to apply for a job

to formally request employment

job advert

a public announcement of an open position

blind application

a job application sent without reference to a specific vacancy

curriculum vitae (CV)

a written overview of a person’s education and work history

to attend a school

to go to and take classes at a school

qualifications

skills, certificates, and degrees that fit someone for a job

work experience

practical knowledge gained from previous jobs

letter of application

a formal letter written to request a job

to outline something

to give the main points or summary of something

interview

a formal meeting to assess a candidate for a job

trade union

an organization that represents workers’ interests

individual

a single person

to negotiate

to discuss in order to reach agreement

employer

a person or company that hires workers

collective action

steps taken together by workers on someone’s behalf

wages

payment received for work, usually by the hour

overtime rates

higher pay for hours worked beyond the regular schedule

injustice in the workplace

unfair treatment on the job

unfair dismissal

termination of employment without just cause

severance package

compensation paid upon dismissal

to mediate

to act as a neutral go-between in a dispute

dispute

a disagreement or argument

industrial action

collective steps by workers to protest, e.g., strikes

to work to rule

to slow production by strictly following rules

strike

a work stoppage by employees

to put pressure on someone

to try to influence or persuade someone

to provide legal assistance

to give help with laws and rights

to lobby someone

to attempt to influence a decision maker

employment legislation

laws that regulate work and workers

to decline

to decrease or refuse

to protect someone

to keep a person safe from harm

discrimination

unfair treatment based on prejudice

racial origin

a person’s race or ancestry

ethnic

relating to cultural heritage

gender

a person’s sex or identity

disability

a physical or mental condition limiting activities

sexual orientation

a person’s romantic or sexual preference

subtle

not obvious; delicate

to exclude someone

to leave someone out

business diversity

varied workforce in terms of background and identity

workforce

all the employees of an organization

customer

a buyer of goods or services

supplier

a company that provides goods or materials

shareholder

someone who owns stock in a company

working environment

physical and social conditions at a workplace

to reduce something

to make something smaller or less

absenteeism

frequent absence from work without good reason

corporate image

public perception of a company

economy

the system of production and consumption in a region

economic growth

increase in a nation’s output of goods and services

economist

a specialist in economics

gross domestic product (GDP)

total value of goods and services produced in a country

living standard

level of wealth and comfort enjoyed by people

demand

desire or need for goods and services

consumption

use of goods and services

to maintain

to keep something at a given level or state

inflation

general rise in prices over time

to encourage

to give support or confidence; to stimulate

consumer

a person who buys goods or services

spending

money paid out for goods and services

to cut taxes

to reduce the amount of tax charged

to cut interest rates

to lower the cost of borrowing

to increase supply

to make more goods available

raw material

basic substance used to make products

personnel

staff; people employed in an organization

to manufacture goods

to make products on a large scale

unemployment

state of being without a paid job

cyclical

recurring in cycles

boom

period of rapid economic growth

recession

period of economic decline

decrease

a reduction or drop

manufacturing

the process of making goods

slump

sharp fall in business or economy

stock market

place where shares are bought and sold

infrastructure

basic physical systems of a country, e.g., roads, power

efficient

performing well without waste

transport

movement of people or goods

skilled labour

workers with special training and abilities