worker

A worker is a person who performs work, usually for wages or salary, for an employer or client. Workers may be employed full-time or part-time, on temporary contracts, or as independent contractors. The term covers a wide range of occupations, from manual labor to professional and administrative roles.

In economics, labor is one of the factors of production alongside capital and land. The worker contributes time, effort, skills, and knowledge to produce goods and services. Productivity depends on training, technology, work organization, and access to capital.

Classification differs by context: employees who work under a contract of employment; independent contractors or freelancers who provide services under a contract; and gig or platform workers who perform tasks on digital marketplaces. Occupations are often described by skill level, such as blue-collar, white-collar, or professional.

Workers' rights include legal protections against unsafe work, unfair dismissal, discrimination, and excessive hours. Many jurisdictions set minimum wages, maximum working hours, and requirements for overtime. Unions and collective bargaining mechanisms exist to negotiate wages and conditions.

Historically, the concept of the worker has been central to labor movements, particularly since the Industrial Revolution. Reforms in many countries addressed child labor, worker safety, wages, and the right to organize.

In contemporary economies, automation, globalization, and the rise of the gig economy have transformed work arrangements. As technology changes, issues such as job security, wage adequacy, and access to training remain central to the discourse about what it means to be a worker.