die Leiharbeit, -en
temporary work
Definition & meaning
Leiharbeit means temporary agency work or labor hire. A worker is employed by a staffing agency and assigned to work for another company, which directs the worker’s day-to-day tasks. The term describes this employment arrangement, not simply any job that lasts for a short time.
The word is often used in discussions about job security and working conditions. It is neutral in itself, though the practice can be debated.
Grammar & Word origin
Leiharbeit is a feminine noun: die Leiharbeit. It is usually uncountable, so it generally has no plural form.
It combines Leih-, from the verb leihen (“to lend” or “to hire out”), with Arbeit (“work”). Literally, it suggests work performed by someone “lent” to another company.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Zeitarbeit — a common near-synonym, especially in everyday usage. It emphasizes the temporary nature of the arrangement; Leiharbeit more directly evokes the worker being assigned to another company.
- Arbeitnehmerüberlassung — the formal legal term for the arrangement in which an employer supplies workers to another company.
- Direktanstellung — an opposite in employment structure: the company where the person works employs them directly.
- Festanstellung — an ongoing, stable position, often used as a contrast to temporary agency work, though it does not necessarily mean the worker is employed directly by the workplace.
Common phrases & collocations
Make “Leiharbeit” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Sie ist in der Leiharbeit tätig.noun
She is employed in temporary work.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad