Last updated: October 20, 2026
Work and economy questions ask about jobs, salaries, careers, and business. These words help you discuss employment, income, and how the world of work is changing.
Each word below has a short meaning and an example sentence written for IELTS. The first six are the core words from our IELTS academic vocabulary list, and the other 24 build your range further. Use them in your essays and in your Speaking Part 3 answers.
If you’re looking for free IELTS Writing practice, click the button below to write an essay and get an instant AI score, including a Lexical Resource band.
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Core Work and the Economy Words
Start with these six. They come up again and again in IELTS questions on this topic.
Unemployment
The state of not having a job.
- Youth unemployment can lead to wider social problems.
Job satisfaction
How happy people are with their work.
- For many workers, job satisfaction matters more than salary.
Income inequality
A large difference between what rich and poor people earn.
- Higher taxes on the wealthy could reduce income inequality.
Productivity
How much work is done in a given time.
- Flexible hours may increase productivity rather than reduce it.
Incentive
Something that encourages a person to do something.
- Tax breaks give companies an incentive to hire young people.
Remote working
Working from home or away from the office.
- Remote working saves commuting time but can feel isolating.
24 More Work and the Economy Words
Once you know the core words, these help you add precision and avoid repeating yourself.
Workforce
All the people who work in a company or country.
- Women now make up almost half of the workforce.
Career prospects
The chances of success in a career.
- Speaking a second language can improve your career prospects.
Work-life balance
The balance between time spent working and personal time.
- Flexible hours help employees achieve a better work-life balance.
Minimum wage
The lowest pay that employers are allowed to pay by law.
- Raising the minimum wage could reduce poverty.
Entrepreneur
A person who starts their own business.
- Young entrepreneurs often struggle to get bank loans.
Economic growth
An increase in the wealth a country produces.
- Tourism is a major source of economic growth.
Job security
Confidence that you will not lose your job.
- Temporary contracts offer very little job security.
Skilled worker
A worker with special training or experience.
- There is a shortage of skilled workers in construction.
Recession
A period when a country’s economy shrinks.
- Many young people lost their jobs during the recession.
Promotion
A move to a higher position at work.
- Hard work does not always lead to promotion.
Freelance
Working for several clients rather than one employer.
- Freelance designers can choose their own hours.
Gig economy
A way of working based on short-term jobs rather than permanent ones.
- The gig economy offers flexibility but few benefits.
Consumer spending
The money the public spends on goods and services.
- Lower taxes can boost consumer spending.
Multinational
Operating in several countries.
- Multinational companies can move jobs to cheaper countries.
Labour market
The supply of workers and the jobs available.
- Graduates are entering a very competitive labour market.
Retirement age
The age at which people stop working.
- Many countries are raising the retirement age.
Overtime
Extra hours worked after your normal working hours.
- Unpaid overtime is common in some industries.
Colleague
A person you work with.
- Supportive colleagues make a stressful job easier.
Redundancy
Losing your job because it is no longer needed.
- Automation has led to redundancy for many factory workers.
White-collar
Connected with office or professional work.
- White-collar jobs are increasingly done from home.
Blue-collar
Connected with manual or physical work.
- Blue-collar workers are often paid less despite the physical demands.
Workplace
The place where people work.
- A diverse workplace can be more creative.
Financial stability
Having a steady and secure income.
- Many young people put financial stability before job satisfaction.
Inflation
A general rise in prices over time.
- High inflation reduces the real value of wages.
Using These Words in IELTS Writing
Lexical Resource is a quarter of your Writing band. Examiners look for a range of topic words used accurately and in natural combinations, not for the longest words you know.
- Use a few well, not many badly. Three or four precise words in an essay are worth more than ten forced ones.
- Learn the word with its partners. Note the collocations in each example sentence, such as the verb that goes with a noun.
- Paraphrase the question. Topic words help you restate the question in your introduction without copying it.
Try these words in a real IELTS Writing Task 2 question:
For natural word pairs on this topic, see our IELTS collocations by topic, and to connect your ideas, our IELTS linking words.
Using These Words in IELTS Speaking Part 3
Lexical Resource also counts for a quarter of your Speaking band. Part 3 is where these words fit best: the examiner asks abstract questions about society, causes, and the future, and a precise topic word shows the range that band 7 and above require. In Part 1, everyday words usually sound more natural.
- Use the word in your own sentence. Memorised phrases are easy for examiners to spot.
- Keep the tone conversational. Mix academic words with natural spoken phrases such as “I’d say” and “on top of that”.
- Support every word with an example. A topic word followed by a real example is what develops a Part 3 answer.
Sample Part 3 answer
Personally, I’d put job satisfaction first, but I understand why many people don’t. If you have a family to support, financial stability obviously matters a lot, especially when inflation is high. Still, I think a job you enjoy usually brings better career prospects in the long run, because you’re more motivated to learn. And a good work-life balance is something money really can’t buy.
The words in bold are from this page. Notice that each one is part of a natural spoken sentence, followed by a reason or an example.
Practise using these words in a real IELTS Speaking Part 3 answer:
For more questions and the answer patterns that fit them, see our IELTS Speaking Part 3 questions.
More IELTS Academic Vocabulary
Each page has 30 words with examples. For the six core words of every topic on one page, see our IELTS academic vocabulary list.
Education Environment Technology Health Society and Government Culture and Globalisation Presenting an Argument Cause and Effect Describing Data
Frequently Asked Questions
helpWhat vocabulary do I need for IELTS work and economy topics?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn words for jobs, pay, and the economy, such as unemployment, job security, minimum wage, and economic growth. They help you discuss careers, salaries, and business in Writing and Speaking.
helpHow can I use work vocabulary in IELTS Speaking?expand_moreexpand_less
Part 3 often asks what matters most in a job or how work is changing. Words such as work-life balance and career prospects help you give a clear, well-supported opinion.
helpHow do I remember work and the economy vocabulary for IELTS?expand_moreexpand_less
Learn each word with an example sentence and the words it is usually used with, review the list a few times a week, and use three or four of the words in every practice essay and Speaking Part 3 answer until they feel natural.