manpower

The term "manpower" refers to the total number of people available or required for a specific task, or the power supplied by human physical effort. Originating in the mid-19th century, it is a compound of "man"—historically used in English to denote a human being regardless of gender—and "power." It has long been a standard term in economics, military logistics, and human resources to quantify labor capacity.

Usage of the term is contested due to evolving standards regarding gender-inclusive language. Proponents of the term often argue that "man" serves as a gender-neutral prefix (similar to "mankind") and that the word is a widely understood industry standard. However, critics and many modern style guides argue that the term is unnecessarily gendered, implicitly centering men as the default worker while rendering women and non-binary individuals invisible. Consequently, many organizations have shifted toward neutral synonyms to reflect a diverse workforce accurately.

Example:
"The construction firm needed to hire additional manpower to finish the bridge on schedule."

Example:
"Effective manpower planning ensures that the company has enough employees to meet production goals."