Pole for the workforce (5)
I believe the answer is:
staff
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'pole' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'the workforce' is the second definition.
(both can mean a group of workers)
'for' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for staff that I've seen before include "Group employed in services etc" , "the general's assistants recognised" , "Hands" , "Rod - workforce" , "Rod of authority" .)