Labor and labour mean the same thing. The only difference is spelling.
Use labor in American English. Use labour in British English and in most writing that follows British spelling. Both words can mean work, effort, workers as a group, or the process of giving birth. Major dictionaries define the word around these same meanings, including physical or mental effort, workers’ services, and childbirth.
Examples:
- American English: The company reduced labor costs.
- British English: The company reduced labour costs.
- American English: She went into labor at midnight.
- British English: She went into labour at midnight.
Quick Answer
| Use | Correct Spelling | Example |
|---|---|---|
| American English | labor | The report studied the US labor market. |
| British English | labour | The report studied the UK labour market. |
| Childbirth In American English | labor | She was in labor for ten hours. |
| Childbirth In British English | labour | She was in labour for ten hours. |
| Official Names | Use the official spelling | U.S. Department of Labor; British Labour Party |
| Australian Political Party | Labor | Australian Labor Party |
The safest rule is simple: match your audience, but never change the spelling of an official name.
What Does Labor Or Labour Mean?
Labor or labour can be a noun or a verb.
As a noun, it can mean work, effort, workers, or childbirth.
Examples:
- The repair bill includes parts and labor.
- The factory needs skilled labour.
- The workers organized a labor union.
- She went into labour early.
As a verb, it means to work hard, move with difficulty, or spend too much effort on something.
Examples:
- The team labored all week to finish the project.
- The team laboured all week to finish the project.
- The truck labored up the hill.
- Do not labour the point.
Dictionary.com also lists verb uses such as “to labor the point,” meaning to develop or dwell on something in too much detail.
Labor Vs Labour: The Main Difference
The difference between labor and labour is regional spelling.
Labor is the standard spelling in the United States.
Labour is the standard spelling in the United Kingdom and in many countries that follow British spelling.
The pronunciation is the same. Both are usually pronounced LAY-ber.
The meaning does not change when the spelling changes.
When To Use Labor
Use labor when writing for a US audience or following American English.
Correct For American English:
- labor costs
- labor laws
- labor union
- labor market
- hard labor
- go into labor
- U.S. Department of Labor
The official US government department uses Labor in its name, so that spelling should not be changed.
Examples:
- The company is reviewing its labor costs.
- The new policy affects labor rights.
- She went into labor during the night.
- The U.S. Department of Labor released new employment data.
When To Use Labour
Use labour when writing for a British audience or following British English.
Correct For British English:
- labour costs
- labour laws
- labour union
- labour market
- hard labour
- go into labour
- Labour Party
The official UK political party uses Labour, so that spelling should remain unchanged.
Examples:
- The company is reviewing its labour costs.
- The new policy affects labour rights.
- She went into labour during the night.
- Many voters supported the Labour candidate.
Regional Usage By Country
| Country Or Region | Usual Spelling | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | labor | Standard American spelling |
| United Kingdom | labour | Standard British spelling |
| Canada | labour | Canadian English often follows British spelling for this word |
| Australia | labour | Standard spelling in general writing |
| Australian Labor Party | Labor | Official party name uses the American-style spelling |
| New Zealand | labour | Usually follows British spelling |
| India | labour | Often follows British spelling in formal English |
The Australian exception is important: in general Australian English, labour is common, but the official political party is the Australian Labor Party. The party’s own site uses Labor, and other grammar competitors also flag this exception.
Proper Names And Exceptions
Do not change official spellings, even if they do not match the spelling style of the rest of your article.
Keep Official Names As Written:
- U.S. Department of Labor
- Labor Day in the United States
- British Labour Party
- Australian Labor Party
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- Labour Party when referring to the UK party
This rule also applies to quotations, book titles, article titles, organization names, laws, holidays, and branded terms.
Correct:
- The article quoted the phrase “labour of love.”
- The report mentioned the U.S. Department of Labor.
- The Australian Labor Party announced its policy.
- The UK Labour Party published its manifesto.
Incorrect:
- The Australian Labour Party announced its policy.
- The U.S. Department of Labour issued guidance.
Labor And Labour As Nouns
As nouns, labor and labour can refer to work, effort, a workforce, or childbirth.
Work Or Effort:
- The project required months of labor.
- The project required months of labour.
Workers As A Group:
- The company needs more skilled labor.
- The company needs more skilled labour.
Childbirth:
- She went into labor at home.
- She went into labour at home.
Merriam-Webster includes both general and medical meanings, including physical or mental effort, workers’ services, and the physical process of giving birth.
Labor And Labour As Verbs
As verbs, both spellings mean to work hard, struggle, move with effort, or explain something too heavily.
American English:
- He labored over the essay for days.
- The engine labored on the steep road.
- Do not labor the point.
British English:
- He laboured over the essay for days.
- The engine laboured on the steep road.
- Do not labour the point.
Derivative Forms: Labored, Laboured, Laboring, Labouring
The spelling pattern continues in related forms.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| labor | labour |
| labored | laboured |
| laboring | labouring |
| laborer | labourer |
| laboriously | laboriously |
| labor-intensive | labour-intensive |
Examples:
- American English: The workers labored through the heat.
- British English: The workers laboured through the heat.
- American English: The road crew hired more laborers.
- British English: The road crew hired more labourers.
- American English: The process is labor-intensive.
- British English: The process is labour-intensive.
Some competitors cover these related forms, but many do not explain them clearly enough for readers who need the full spelling pattern.
Common Phrases With Labor And Labour
Use the spelling that matches your audience.
| American English | British English |
|---|---|
| labor costs | labour costs |
| labor force | labour force |
| labor market | labour market |
| labor union | labour union |
| hard labor | hard labour |
| manual labor | manual labour |
| skilled labor | skilled labour |
| division of labor | division of labour |
| labor of love | labour of love |
| go into labor | go into labour |
Examples:
- The business is trying to reduce labor costs.
- The business is trying to reduce labour costs.
- The country is facing a skilled labor shortage.
- The country is facing a skilled labour shortage.
- Restoring the old house was a labor of love.
- Restoring the old house was a labour of love.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Mistake 1: Treating Labor And Labour As Different Words
They are not different in meaning. They are regional spellings of the same word.
Incorrect: Labor means work, but labour means childbirth.
Correct: Both can refer to work or childbirth. The spelling depends on the English variety.
Mistake 2: Mixing Both Spellings Without A Reason
Do not switch between labor and labour in the same article unless you are using an official name or quotation.
Inconsistent: The company reduced labor costs after reviewing labour contracts.
Consistent US: The company reduced labor costs after reviewing labor contracts.
Consistent UK: The company reduced labour costs after reviewing labour contracts.
Mistake 3: Changing Official Names
Proper names should stay exactly as written.
Incorrect: U.S. Department of Labour
Correct: U.S. Department of Labor
Incorrect: Australian Labour Party
Correct: Australian Labor Party
Mistake 4: Assuming Labour Is More Formal
Labour is not more formal than labor. It is simply the British spelling.
For US readers, labour may look foreign or inconsistent. For British readers, labor may look American.
Mistake 5: Forgetting The Childbirth Meaning
Both spellings can refer to childbirth.
American English: She went into labor early.
British English: She went into labour early.
Easy Memory Trick
Use the u in labour to remember the UK spelling.
- Labour has u.
- United Kingdom starts with U.
- Use labour for UK-style English.
Use labor without u for US English.
Examples In Real Contexts
Business:
- US: The company lowered labor expenses.
- UK: The company lowered labour expenses.
Healthcare:
- US: She was in labor for twelve hours.
- UK: She was in labour for twelve hours.
Politics:
- US: The senator discussed labor policy.
- UK: The MP discussed labour policy.
- Proper name: The Labour Party announced its plan.
- Proper name: The Australian Labor Party won the election.
Academic Writing:
- US: The paper examines the division of labor.
- UK: The paper examines the division of labour.
Everyday Writing:
- US: Cleaning the garage was a labor of love.
- UK: Cleaning the garage was a labour of love.
FAQs
Is labor or labour correct?
Both are correct. Use labor in American English and labour in British English.
Do labor and labour mean the same thing?
Yes. They have the same meaning. The difference is spelling, not definition.
Is labour used in American English?
Not usually. American English uses labor, except when quoting a title, using a proper name, or referring to an organization that officially uses labour.
Is labor used in British English?
Not usually. British English uses labour, except in official names that use Labor, such as the Australian Labor Party.
Is it labor or labour in Canada?
In Canadian English, labour is generally preferred, especially in formal writing.
Is it Labor Day or Labour Day?
In the United States, the holiday is Labor Day. In countries that use British spelling, Labour Day is common.
Is it labor union or labour union?
Use labor union in American English and labour union in British English.
Is it go into labor or go into labour?
Use go into labor in American English and go into labour in British English. Both refer to the start of childbirth.
Why does labour have a u?
Labour follows the British spelling pattern also seen in words like colour, honour, and favour. American English commonly drops the u, giving labor, color, honor, and favor.
Should I use labor or labour for SEO?
Use the spelling your target readers search for. For a US audience, use labor. For a UK, Canadian, Australian, or Commonwealth-style audience, use labour. If your article targets both, explain both spellings clearly and use each where appropriate.
Conclusion
The difference between labor and labour is simple: labor is American English, and labour is British English. They mean the same thing and are pronounced the same way.
Use labor for US readers, labour for British-style readers, and the official spelling for names such as U.S. Department of Labor, British Labour Party, and Australian Labor Party.
