labour exchange
labour exchange
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling
/ˈleɪbər ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/
la-bour:
/ˈleɪ/ - The "lay" sound, as in "say"
/bər/ - The "bur" sound, as in "butter" (unstressed)
ex-change:
/ɪks/ - The "ix" sound, as in "mix"
/ˈtʃeɪndʒ/ - The "change" sound, as in "range"
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: labour exchange
Plural Noun: labour exchanges
(Note: While "labour exchange" can sometimes function attributively (e.g., "labour exchange policy"), it is fundamentally a noun phrase and does not typically inflect as a verb, adjective, or adverb itself.)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
A government office or agency that assists unemployed people in finding work and employers in finding suitable candidates. Historically, these were physical locations where job seekers would register and job vacancies would be advertised.
Synonyms: job centre (UK), employment agency, unemployment office, job placement office, career center
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific type of establishment, as it defines a service rather than an opposing concept.)
The process or system by which labor (workforce) is traded or allocated, often referring to the broader economic mechanism of matching workers with jobs.
Synonyms: labor market, job market, employment system
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; concepts like "unemployment" or "job scarcity" describe conditions within the labor exchange, not its opposite.)
Examples of Use
Books
"Gwenfron was 18 when she was called for an interview in the Port Talbot Labour Exchange where she was asked how she would support the war effort." (Dictionary.com, citing an unnamed literary source) - This example illustrates the historical role of labour exchanges as formal institutions for job placement, particularly during times of national effort like wartime.
"The idea of labour exchange as a commodity exchange is already present in the contract theory Hegel develops in Elements of the Philosophy of Right." (OpenEdition Books, "2. Abstract Labour as a Historical Reality") - This academic use highlights "labour exchange" in a philosophical and economic context, discussing the theoretical underpinnings of work as a traded commodity.
"In his seminal and canonical text for the new science of political economy, the Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith seems to proceed as if there are markets for labour, akin to markets for 'commodities' in the ordinary sense of that term. It might therefore seem as if for Smith, the production, distribution and exchange (or pricing) of labour or labour services, in 'commercial society' (his term), or in a liberal capitalist social economy." (ResearchGate, "Adam Smith and the Labour Contract: Is Labour Exchange Analogous to Commodity Exchange?") - This academic paper discusses the concept of "labour exchange" within the framework of classical economics, specifically referencing Adam Smith's work.
Newspapers
"The first Liberal reform to be considered in this article is the opening of a national network of labour exchanges in February 1910." (Liberal History, "Social policy Susanne Stoddart analyses how the Liberal government's introduction of labour exchanges and maternity benefits was represented in the press...") - This historical context from a newspaper-focused article discusses the establishment of formal labour exchanges as a government initiative in the UK.
"PUBLIC OPINION ON THE GENERAL CONDITIONS AT LABOUR EXCHANGES Home Intelligence 29th December 1941." (MOIDIGITAL.AC.UK, "Public Opinion on the General Conditions at Labour Exchanges, December 1941") - This snippet from a historical document, likely a government report or newspaper analysis from wartime, indicates public perception of these institutions. It shows that "labour exchange" was a common and recognized term.
"It's like a British Labour Exchange in a period of 50 percent unemployment — endless lines of the willing and frustrated, if not bitter and burned out." (Washington Post, cited by Dictionary.com) - This metaphorical use in a newspaper article draws on the image of a historical labour exchange to evoke a sense of desperation and widespread unemployment.
Online Publications
"The newly developed information system introduced new internet tools and provided secure back-office access to the labour exchange system (such back-office access to action plans for example, is not usually offered by most PES)." (European Commission, "Integrated Self-Service ICT System") - This technical example shows "labour exchange" used in the context of modernizing public employment services, indicating a shift towards digital platforms.
"Reciprocal labour exchange became a practice of great interest to social scientists in the immediate post WWII decades when minority world development planners were strategizing how to modernize agriculture in the majority world." (Community Economies, "Collectively Performed Reciprocal Labour: Reading for Possibility") - This academic article uses "labour exchange" to describe a non-monetized system of work sharing, particularly in agricultural communities.
"A social network explanation for labour exchange dynamics in traditional and mechanized agricultural systems." (Redalyc, academic journal) - This recent academic title demonstrates the continued use of "labour exchange" in scholarly discourse to analyze social and economic phenomena related to work.
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms
"The 'labour exchange' tradition of the peasant society in Meinung had transferred to the process of recording the album. We were reminded of the spirit of the 'labour exchange' and the philosophy of the mutual-assisting system, and liked to keep the spirit in our band. Therefore, we chose the name Labour Exchange Band." (Far Side Music, "Labour Exchange Band") - This fascinating example shows a musical group naming themselves after the concept of "labour exchange," specifically referencing a traditional, communal form of reciprocal work. This highlights how the term can resonate culturally beyond its institutional meaning.
While less direct as a plot point, the concept of a "labour exchange" (in the sense of the broader market) is often implicitly present in period dramas, historical films, or documentaries depicting working-class life, particularly in the early 20th century. Scenes showing long lines of unemployed individuals or characters seeking work would be visual representations of the function of a labour exchange, even if the term itself isn't spoken.
General Public Discourse
"When we stop to think that these two conceptions of freedom, the one in the closet and the other in the kitchen, have decided to force themselves on each other and are obliged in all that hullabaloo to reduce still further the female cousin's activity, it will be readily seen that our history is rather one of slavery...The exchange of labour meant really an exchange of commodities upon which labour had been expended." (Libcom.org, citing "Bread and Freedom" by Albert Camus) - While not strictly "public discourse" in the conversational sense, this use from a philosophical essay enters the broader public intellectual sphere, discussing the fundamental nature of "labour exchange" within society and freedom.
In discussions about historical poverty and welfare reforms in the UK, "labour exchange" is often used to refer to the government offices that were precursors to modern job centres. For instance, an elderly person might recount a story of their grandparents "going down to the labour exchange" to look for work during the Great Depression.
The term might also appear in discussions among economists or social policy makers, particularly when referencing historical employment policies or comparing different models of job matching, e.g., "The shift from the traditional labour exchange model to online job boards has profoundly changed how people seek employment."
10 Famous Quotes Using Labour Exchange
"The first Labour Exchange was opened in London in 1910." (While not a direct quote from a person, this factual statement about a significant historical event is often cited in discussions of welfare reform and employment history, making it "famous" in that academic context.)
"The newly developed information system introduced new internet tools and provided secure back-office access to the labour exchange system..." (European Commission, "Integrated Self-Service ICT System" - This quote is recognized in discussions about modernizing public employment services, particularly within policy and technological circles.)
"Reciprocal labour exchange became a practice of great interest to social scientists in the immediate post WWII decades..." (Community Economies, "Collectively Performed Reciprocal Labour: Reading for Possibility" - This quote is well-known within the academic field of community economies and anthropology discussing non-monetized work systems.)
"It's like a British Labour Exchange in a period of 50 percent unemployment — endless lines of the willing and frustrated, if not bitter and burned out." (Washington Post, cited by Dictionary.com - This metaphorical use by a major newspaper carries a certain recognition due to its vivid imagery and connection to a widespread publication.)
"A social network explanation for labour exchange dynamics in traditional and mechanized agricultural systems." (Redalyc, academic journal - This quote represents a recurring theme in sociological and economic research, making it 'famous' within those specific academic domains.)
"Gwenfron was 18 when she was called for an interview in the Port Talbot Labour Exchange where she was asked how she would support the war effort." (Dictionary.com, citing an unnamed literary source - This example, while from an unknown specific author, is illustrative of a common historical experience often recounted and thus recognized in discussions of the period.)
"The idea of labour exchange as a commodity exchange is already present in the contract theory Hegel develops in Elements of the Philosophy of Right." (OpenEdition Books, "2. Abstract Labour as a Historical Reality" - This quote highlights the philosophical concept of labor exchange within a famous work of philosophy, making it notable in academic discourse.)
"Adam Smith seems to proceed as if there are markets for labour, akin to markets for 'commodities' in the ordinary sense of that term. It might therefore seem as if for Smith, the production, distribution and exchange (or pricing) of labour or labour services..." (ResearchGate, "Adam Smith and the Labour Contract: Is Labour Exchange Analogous to Commodity Exchange?" - This quote references the foundational work of a famous economist (Adam Smith) and the concept of "labour exchange" within it, giving it a certain 'fame' in economic thought.)
"The 'labour exchange' tradition of the peasant society in Meinung had transferred to the process of recording the album... Therefore, we chose the name Labour Exchange Band." (Far Side Music, "Labour Exchange Band" - While the band itself may not be universally famous, this quote about their unique naming origin based on the "labour exchange" concept is a recognized story within niche music circles.)
"The exchange of labour meant really an exchange of commodities upon which labour had been expended." (Libcom.org, citing "Bread and Freedom" by Albert Camus - While Camus is a famous author, this specific quote is not among his most widely recognized. However, it uses "exchange of labour" in a fundamental sense, deriving from a well-known philosophical work.)
Etymology
The term "labour exchange" is a combination of two older words: "labour" and "exchange."
Labour: This word comes to English from Old French "labor" (which became "labeur" in Modern French) and ultimately from the Latin word "labor," meaning "toil, exertion, hardship, pain, fatigue, a work, a product of work." In English, "labour" (or "labor" in American spelling) has long referred to physical or mental effort, work, and also the working class itself. Its meaning has been consistently related to the act of working and the people who work.
Exchange: This word also has Old French roots, from "eschange," and Latin "excambiare," meaning "to barter, trade." It refers to the act of giving one thing and receiving another in return, or a place where such trading happens.
When these two words were put together to form "labour exchange," the idea was to describe a place or a system where work (labour) is traded or exchanged.
The first known use of "labour exchange" in the sense of an institution designed to help people find jobs appeared in the early 19th century, around 1828 (according to Merriam-Webster and the Oxford English Dictionary).
Initially, the term could refer to a broader concept of "an exchange for direct transfer of products according to the amount of labour expended in making them without the intervention of money." This reflects early economic and social theories about the value of labor.
However, the more common and lasting meaning that emerged was that of a government-run office or agency specifically set up to connect people looking for work with employers who had jobs available. These places became concrete "exchanges" where information about available "labour" and job openings was exchanged.
While early, informal "labour registries" existed even before then (like the one established in Egham, England in 1885), the official, government-funded "labour exchanges" became prominent with the Labour Exchanges Act of 1909 in the UK, which set up a national network of these offices. These were designed to formalize the process of matching workers with jobs and address unemployment systematically.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Labour Exchange
At the labour exchange: Referring to being physically present at the government office seeking work.
Example: "He spent most mornings down at the labour exchange, hoping for a lead."
To register at the labour exchange: The formal act of signing up for employment assistance.
Example: "After being laid off, her first task was to register at the labour exchange."
A visit to the labour exchange: A common historical occurrence for job seekers.
Example: "A visit to the labour exchange was a regular part of life for many during the Depression."
The labour exchange system: Referring to the organized network of employment services.
Example: "The government aimed to streamline the entire labour exchange system."
Reciprocal labour exchange: Describes a non-monetary system where people trade work or skills. (More academic/technical, but a recognized phrase).
Example: "The village maintained a tradition of reciprocal labour exchange during harvest season."
A fair labour exchange: Pertaining to equitable terms in the hiring or trading of labor. (More a descriptive phrase than a fixed idiom).
Example: "Union negotiations focused on ensuring a fair labour exchange for all members."
To grease the wheels (of the job market/labour exchange): To make the process of finding employment smoother or more efficient (using a synonym, "job market").
Example: "New government initiatives are designed to grease the wheels of the job market for young graduates."
To be out of a job: A common idiom for unemployment (using a synonym for the effect of not engaging with a labour exchange successfully).
Example: "After the factory closed, thousands were suddenly out of a job."
To pound the pavement: An idiom meaning to walk the streets looking for a job (reflects the historical effort of job seeking, often involving places like labour exchanges).
Example: "He's been pounding the pavement for weeks, but jobs are scarce."
A dog-eat-dog job market: An idiom describing a highly competitive and ruthless environment for finding work (uses a synonym, "job market").
Example: "It's a dog-eat-dog job market out there, you need every advantage."
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of labour exchange from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
