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Prepositions before nouns

Prepositions used with employer

Employer combines naturally with several prepositions, but each one has a different meaning and grammar pattern.

Quick answer

Which prepositions are used with employer?

Employer of is common for identifying workers. Employer for is used for a role or task. Employer to is less common but possible in expressions such as a fair employer to staff. By employer is usually part of a passive clause, and with employer often refers to a relationship or agreement.

She is the main employer of local engineers.
They are looking for an employer for seasonal workers.
The policy was introduced by the employer last year.
He signed a contract with his employer yesterday.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
employer of + person/group

Identifying who is employed

Use employer of to show which people or groups a company or person employs.

The firm is an employer of hundreds of graduates.
She became the largest employer of local staff in the region.
2
employer for + role

Matching workers to a purpose

Use employer for when referring to a suitable or intended employer for someone or a role.

The agency helped him find an employer for remote work.
We need an employer for temporary drivers before summer.
3
by + employer

Showing the acting party

By employer usually appears in passive structures where the employer performs an action.

Health insurance is provided by the employer.
The training was arranged by her employer.
4
with + employer

Describing a relationship or agreement

Use with employer when talking about communication, contracts, or experiences involving an employer.

She discussed the issue with her employer.
He signed a new agreement with the employer.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
employer of
The company is an employer of skilled technicians.
Shows who is employed.
employer to
She is a supportive employer to young workers.
Describes behaviour toward employees.
employer for
They found an employer for the trainees.
Shows suitability or assignment.
by employer
The bonus was paid by the employer.
By introduces the agent in a passive clause.
with employer
He negotiated the schedule with his employer.
Shows interaction or relationship.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using employer to instead of employer of for workforce meaning

Use employer of to identify who is employed.

✕ an employer to 500 workers ✓ an employer of 500 workers

Confusing employed by with employer by

Employed by is much more common when naming a workplace relationship.

✕ She is employer by a bank. ✓ She is employed by a bank.

Using with when naming employees

With does not normally identify the workforce itself.

✕ an employer with engineers ✓ an employer of engineers

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company is an employer ___ many local residents.
2. The new policy was announced ___ the employer.
3. She had a long meeting ___ her employer.

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Frequently asked questions

Is employer to correct English?

Yes, but it is less common. It usually describes behaviour toward employees, such as a fair employer to staff.

Should I say employed by or employer of?

Use employed by for a person's job relationship and employer of for the company or organisation.

Can with employer describe communication?

Yes. It is common in phrases such as a meeting with an employer or an agreement with an employer.

of, about, against, to or for racism? of, about, for, in or on friendship? of, about, for, on or to thing? of, about, for, to or with sex? of, about, on, to or for moon? "of access" or "with access"? "of accommodation" or "for accommodation"? "of accuracy" or "for accuracy"? "of action" or "in action"? "of actor", "with actor" or "by actor"? "of address" or "to address"? "of administration" or "in administration"?

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