雇佣（意近：就业）是指二个伙伴之间的契约关系，其中一方为雇佣者，另一方为被雇佣者。从法律意义来看，通过双方契约约定，“被雇佣者”为“雇佣者”（雇主、雇佣人）工作（出卖劳动），并由雇佣者提供报酬的一种法律关系，属于民法的范畴。

在商界，一个生产机构需要尽力进行产出行为以获得商业利润(profit)，具体从事这种产出行为的人并以此获得所得的人称为雇员、职员。

另外，在公共行业（如政府部门、非营利机构）也存在类似的雇员、职员。

提供个人工作机会并酬以薪资的持续活动，称为「雇用」。利用个人或多人所提供的服务来换取工资或其他款项的行为，则称为「短期雇用」。为维持生计或作为主要事业或工作而从事的活动，不论有薪与否，都称为「职业」。

Employment is a relationship between two parties, usually based on a contract where work is paid for, where one party, which may be a corporation, not-for-profit organization, or other entity is the employer and the other is the employee. Employees work in return for payment, which may be in the form of an hourly wage, by piecework or an annual salary, depending on the type of work an employee does and/or which sector she or he is working in. Employees in some fields or sectors may receive gratuities, bonus payments or stock options. In some types of employment, employees may receive benefits in addition to payment. Benefits can include health insurance, housing, disability insurance or use of a gym. Employment is typically governed by employment laws or regulations and/or legal contracts.