IELTS vocabulary: Work

This list presents 12 B2–C1 words and collocations about work that are useful for Writing Task 2 and Speaking Part 3, with clear definitions and example sentences you can adapt.

career progression noun (collocation): The process of advancing to higher positions or responsibilities in your job over time.; “Clear promotion paths and regular training can speed up an employee's career progression.”
job satisfaction noun (collocation): How content and fulfilled someone feels with their job and work conditions.; “High job satisfaction often results in lower staff turnover and better overall performance.”
work-life balance noun (collocation): A healthy division of time and energy between work responsibilities and personal life.; “After having children, she prioritised work-life balance and shifted to a four-day week.”
occupational hazard noun: A danger or risk that is common in a particular job or workplace.; “Exposure to loud noise is an occupational hazard for many factory workers.”
climb the corporate ladder verb phrase: To move up through the ranks of an organisation by gaining promotions and status.; “He climbed the corporate ladder by volunteering for high-profile projects and networking widely.”
gig economy noun: A labour market where short-term contracts or freelance work are common instead of permanent jobs.; “Many graduates join the gig economy for flexibility, but they often lack stable benefits.”
overworked adjective: Having too much work or too many responsibilities, often causing stress or fatigue.; “After several months of tight deadlines, the team felt overworked and needed a break.”
remote work noun (collocation): Working from a location outside the traditional office, often from home, using digital tools.; “Remote work has allowed employees to live farther from city centres while keeping their jobs.”
delegate verb: To give part of your work or responsibilities to someone else, typically to make better use of time or skills.; “As a manager, I try to delegate routine tasks so I can focus on strategy.”
skill set noun (collocation): A specific group of skills and abilities that a person has and uses in their work.; “Her skill set includes data analysis, project management and clear written communication.”
redundancy noun: The situation in which a job is no longer needed and the employee is dismissed; commonly used in contexts of layoffs.; “Following the merger, the marketing department faced several redundancies due to overlapping roles.”
glass ceiling noun (collocation): An unofficial, often unacknowledged barrier that prevents certain groups (e.g., women) from rising to top positions.; “Even though she was qualified, the glass ceiling meant she struggled to reach executive-level roles.”