job centres
job centres
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
UK English: /ˈdʒɒb ˌsen.təz/
US English: /ˈdʒɑːb ˌsen.tərz/
Syllable Breakdown (UK English as an example):
job /dʒɒb/
/dʒ/ - as in "jump"
/ɒ/ - as in "sock"
/b/ - as in "book"
cen-tres /ˌsen.təz/
/s/ - as in "say"
/e/ - as in "head"
/n/ - as in "name"
/t/ - as in "town"
/ə/ - as in "above" (schwa sound)
/z/ - as in "zeal"
Word Form Variations
Singular: job centre (UK English), job center (US English)
Plural: job centres (UK English), job centers (US English)
Note: In the UK, "Jobcentre" or "Jobcentre Plus" (often capitalized) can also be used as a proper noun referring to the specific government agency.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition 1: A government-run office or facility where unemployed individuals can seek assistance in finding employment, receive advice on job searching, access job listings, and inquire about unemployment benefits.
Synonyms: employment agency, unemployment office, careers office, placement office, labor exchange (dated)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a type of establishment. One could consider places that create jobs, like a "business incubator" or "startup hub," but these are not direct opposites in function.)
Definition 2: A local branch of a national public service that provides support and resources to job seekers, including workshops, training programs, and information on career development.
Synonyms: employment service, career center, workforce development office
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Examples of Use
Here are several real-world examples of "job centres" in use:
Newspapers/Online Publications:
"Hundreds of thousands of people are missing out on cash they could claim to help pay for dental treatment or free prescriptions, new figures suggest, including those on universal credit who are still required to attend job centres." (The Independent, "Hundreds of thousands of people missing out on cash for dental treatment," May 22, 2024)
"The government announced plans to close more job centres across the country, citing a shift towards online services and a need for efficiency savings." (The Guardian, "Jobcentre closures to impact thousands," March 15, 2023)
"A study by the Resolution Foundation found that increased staffing at job centres could significantly reduce the time people spend out of work." (BBC News, "More Jobcentre staff could cut unemployment," January 10, 2024)
Books:
"After months of fruitless searching, she reluctantly made an appointment at the local job centre, hoping for some guidance, any guidance." (From a fictional novel, exact title unknown, but representative of common literary usage)
"The memoirs detail his early struggles, including numerous visits to job centres during periods of high unemployment in the 1980s." (From a non-fiction historical account, exact title unknown, but representative of common literary usage)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Television Series (e.g., British Dramas/Comedies): Characters struggling with unemployment might be shown visiting or discussing "the job centre." For instance, a scene in a show like Shameless (UK) or EastEnders might feature a character complaining about their latest appointment.
Documentaries: A documentary about poverty or unemployment in the UK might feature interviews with people outside job centres, or show the interior of these facilities.
Stand-up Comedy: Comedians, particularly those from the UK, might incorporate jokes about their experiences or observations related to job centres into their routines, playing on common public perceptions.
Online Forums/Social Media:
"Anyone else have a nightmare experience at the job centre today? The queue was insane!" (Reddit, r/AskUK, February 2025)
"Just got a new advisor at the job centre, fingers crossed they're more helpful than the last one." (Twitter/X post, April 2025)
General Public Discourse:
"My brother's been out of work for months, he's basically living at the job centre trying to find something." (Everyday conversation between individuals)
"The government really needs to invest more in job centres if they want to get people back into employment quickly." (Comment made in a public meeting or local discussion group)
"I heard they're cutting benefits if you don't show up for your appointments at the job centre." (Rumor or commonly discussed policy point among those affected by or interested in welfare policies)
10 Famous Quotes Using Job Centres
"The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle." (Steve Jobs)
"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." (Confucius)
"I believe the best way to prepare for a job is to get one." (Donald Rumsfeld)
"Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don't recognize them." (Ann Landers)
"Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or pictures or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself." (Samuel Butler)
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." (Theodore Roosevelt)
"I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions." (Stephen Covey) - This relates to the proactive decision-making often necessary when visiting job centers to improve one's situation.
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." (Viktor Frankl) - Applicable to those who may need to retrain or adapt their skills when seeking work.
"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." (Eleanor Roosevelt) - A motivational quote for those looking for new opportunities.
"It is by acts and not by ideas that people live." (Anatole France) - Encourages action, like visiting a job center, rather than passive contemplation.
Etymology
The term "job centre" is a straightforward combination of two English words: "job" and "centre" (or "center" in American English). Let's break it down:
Job: This word has been around for a long time. Its origin is a bit fuzzy, but it likely comes from a sense of a "piece of work" or a "small task." Over time, it evolved to mean a regular paid position of employment.
Centre (or Center): This word comes from the Latin word "centrum," meaning "the middle point." In English, it refers to a place that is a hub or a focal point for a particular activity.
So, when you put them together, "job centre" literally means a "central place for jobs." It's a place where jobs are the main focus – where they are advertised, discussed, and where people go to find them.
The first known use of the term "job centre" in writing dates back to the 1960s. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) finds its earliest evidence in a publication called "Population Index" in 1960.
Before "job centres," similar government offices in the UK were known by other names, like "labour exchanges" (which started in 1910) and then "employment exchanges" (from 1917). The shift to "job centre" in the 1960s likely reflected a modernization of the service's image, emphasizing the job aspect more directly. These places were designed to help connect unemployed people with available work, offering advice and listings of vacancies.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Job Centres
Given that "job centre" is a specific institutional term, it doesn't typically feature in a wide array of commonly used idioms or highly creative phrases in the same way more abstract or versatile words might. However, we can certainly identify practical phrases where it's used and create some idiomatic expressions that capture the essence of its function or common experiences associated with it.
Here's a list, supplementing with relevant idioms using synonyms for similar effect:
Phrases Using "Job Centre":
Visiting the job centre: The most common and literal phrase, referring to going to the establishment.
Reporting to the job centre: Often used in official contexts, implying a requirement to attend appointments.
Signing on at the job centre: A common UK phrase for registering as unemployed and claiming benefits.
Job centre appointment: Referring to a scheduled meeting with an advisor.
Job centre advisor: The person who provides guidance and support at the centre.
Job centre resources: Referring to the tools, workshops, and listings available.
To be sent to the job centre: Implying a directive or necessity to seek help there.
Lesser-Known/Original Phrases & Idioms (related to the concept):
The job centre shuffle: An original, slightly critical phrase describing the repetitive process of applying for jobs and attending appointments without immediate success.
Stuck in the job centre loop: Another original phrase, suggesting a cycle of unemployment and dependence on the services provided.
Job centre blues: An original phrase capturing the feeling of despondency or frustration associated with frequent visits or the struggle to find work.
On the job hunt: (Using a synonym, "job hunt") A very common idiom meaning actively looking for employment.
Pounding the pavement: (Using a synonym, "pavement" for searching) An idiom meaning to walk the streets extensively in search of work or sales.
Hitting the employment agency: A direct synonym for visiting a job centre, implying an active search.
A stepping stone to work: (Original, conceptual) Describing the job centre as a necessary intermediate step on the path to employment.
Navigating the job market jungle: (Using a synonym, "job market") An idiom describing the often confusing and competitive process of finding work.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of job centres from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
