'Work Experience' or 'Working Experience'? Which One Is Correct? | Mastering Grammar

(Last Updated: 17 October 2024)

Work Experience or Working Experience: Which One Is Correct?

When it comes to writing about someone's job-related experience, one common point of confusion is whether to use work experience or working experience.

The standard and widely accepted term is work experience:

✅ She has extensive work experience in marketing.

✅ His work experience includes five years in project management.

✅ My brother gained valuable work experience during his internship at the law firm.

✅ To apply for the position, you need at least two years of relevant work experience.

✅ Anna's extensive work experience in the healthcare industry made her the ideal candidate for the job.

While working experience may not be incorrect, it is much less commonly used and may sound awkward to native English speakers. To ensure clarity, it is best to use the widely accepted term work experience when referring to someone's job-related experience.

This Google Ngram shows that work experience is used much more frequently than working experience.

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Examples from the Media

Not all of those are jobs worked for money. Some students accept internships in order to gain work experience with a company or in a chosen field. —The Washington Post (1997) 

Ontario is hoping to ban employers from asking for Canadian work experience and relax the provincial immigration eligibility so that international graduates from one-year college programs can qualify for permanent residence. —Toronto Star (2023)

Young people surveyed, including former Scouts, found that 61 per cent said a lack of work experience meant they did not feel prepared for starting work after school or university. —Daily Mail (2023)

High school students are missing out on work experience as opportunities become harder to find, with some educators questioning the efficacy of the program. —The Sydney Morning Herald (2023)