hiring hall

noun

1. an employment office operated by a union for placing members in jobs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of hiring hall¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

The Portland jobs tending refrigerated containers were coveted by San Francisco-based leaders of the old-style union, whose members still line up daily at hiring halls, many in the footsteps of fathers and grandfathers.

From Los Angeles Times

When a local hiring hall held an automotive-themed day last week, it was mobbed with former Ford employees who had accepted severance payments and were looking for their next jobs.

From New York Times

“They do not dare to quit without being able to find another one,” said Lei Kaifeng, a labor recruiter at a hiring hall in Guangzhou, the commercial hub of southeastern China.

From New York Times

It’s essentially a fill-in position for when the hiring hall has more work than regular dockworkers can handle.

From Washington Times

“Workers are more often in temporary positions and spread out. It’s very challenging to organize them. It was easier when there were hiring halls and you could get in touch with workers,” he says.

From Seattle Times