Job vs. Work vs. Occupation
“Job,” “work,” and “occupation” are related words in English, but they have different meanings and uses. This guide explains how to use each one correctly.
Job
A job is a specific position or role that a person has within a company or organization. It usually involves a fixed set of tasks and responsibilities. You can have one job at a time, and jobs can be temporary or permanent.
- Refers to a specific position or role.
- Has defined duties and responsibilities.
- Can be full-time, part-time, temporary, or permanent.
- Example: *She got a job as a teacher.
Work
Work is a more general term that refers to any kind of effort or activity done to achieve a goal, especially to earn money. It can be a job, tasks within a job, or even unpaid activities. “Work” is usually uncountable, so we don’t say “works” in this context.
- Refers to the activity or effort of doing tasks.
- Can be paid or unpaid.
- Can happen inside or outside a formal job.
- Example: *I have a lot of work to do today.
Choose the correct word: Even on weekends, I often have _____ to do around the house.
work
'Work' is appropriate because it refers to tasks or effort, which can be paid or unpaid.
Occupation
An occupation is a formal term for the kind of job or profession a person has. It describes what a person does for a living, often used in official or legal contexts like forms and surveys. Unlike “job,” which refers to a specific position, “occupation” is more about the general category of work.
- Refers to a person’s general profession or career.
- Used in formal, official, or legal contexts.
- Describes what a person does for a living.
- Example: *Her occupation is engineer.
Choose the correct word: What is your father's _____? Is he in healthcare or education?
occupation
'Occupation' refers to the general field or profession someone belongs to.
Summary
- Job: A specific role or position (e.g., I have a job at a restaurant.)
- Work: The activity or effort of doing tasks (e.g., I’m doing work on my project.)
- Occupation: A general category of profession (e.g., Her occupation is nursing.)
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
