What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
employ
Example
The company employs over 500 people. [employ: verb]
Example
We employ various strategies to improve our sales. [employ: verb]
Example
He has been in steady employment for the past five years. [employment: noun]
hire
Example
We need to hire more staff to handle the workload. [hire: verb]
Example
I'm going to hire a car for our road trip. [hire: verb]
Example
We hired a lawyer to help us with the legal issues. [hired: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Hire is more commonly used than employ in everyday language, especially in the context of temporary or one-time arrangements. However, employ is more commonly used in the context of regular jobs or positions.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between employ and hire?
Employ is generally considered more formal or professional than hire, which may have a more casual or everyday connotation.