A lot of workers go to new positions (5)
I believe the answer is:
shift
'a lot' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
I don't understand the rest of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shift that I've seen before include "hours of work" , "Change location" , "Move - working period" , "Time when group of people are working" , "Key to move between lower- and upper-case" .)