What does jobholder mean?
A jobholder is simply a person who has a job. In most contemporary usage, the word is especially associated with British English and with legal, workplace, and public-policy contexts, where it emphasizes the fact and status of employment rather than the worker's occupation. Thus, a nurse, teacher, or factory worker can all be described as jobholders, although employee is usually the more neutral everyday choice. The term may suggest that the person's position is regular or ongoing, and dictionaries sometimes attach that implication explicitly, but it does not by itself identify an employer, rank, profession, or job title. In American English, employee or worker is generally preferred in ordinary speech. Jobholder remains useful when a discussion focuses on whether someone is employed and on the conditions or protections attached to that status rather than on what the person does.
nounA person who holds a job, especially one with a regular or permanent position. The term may also emphasize the person's status as an employee rather than a particular occupation.
- A person who has a job or is employed, especially in a regular or permanent position.
"The new policy provides jobholders with additional leave during severe weather."
"Every jobholder received written notice of the change to the workplace policy."
"The survey asked jobholders whether their current working arrangements allowed sufficient flexibility."
The regular plural is formed by adding -s to the singular noun.
"The new rights will protect thousands of jobholders across the region."
Jobholder puts the person before the post: it is useful when the question concerns employment itself rather than a particular occupation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does jobholder come from?
Job was borrowed into English from French job, an older word for a turn, rotation, or piece of work. Holder belongs to the productive English family of hold and uses the noun-forming suffix -er; jobholder combines these elements in the sense of a person who has or holds a job. Its close English relatives include job, jobbing, jobless, and jobber.
Related word forms
How jobholder is actually used
This is a somewhat formal and bureaucratic term, particularly common in British legal, workplace, and public-policy contexts. In ordinary American English, employee or worker is usually preferred.
Easily confused with jobholder
A jobholder already holds a job, whereas a jobseeker is looking for employment.