hire、employ与engage这些动词均含“雇用”之意。
hire : 普通用词，常指短期或长期雇用某人从事某一特定工作或一次性的工作，含强调为薪金而工作的意味。
- I was hired by the first company I applied to.
我求职的第一家公司雇用了我。 - We ought to hire a public relations consultant to help improve our image.
我们应该雇用一位公共关系顾问来提升我们的形象。
employ : 正式用词，侧重受雇者虽为薪金而工作，但工作固定共享有相当尊严。
- How many people does your company employ?
你们公司雇有多少员工？ - Can't we employ someone as an assistant to help with all this paperwork?
我们不可以雇一位助理来协助处理这些文书工作吗？ - We've employed a market researcher to find out what people really want from a cable TV system.
我们已经雇用了一位市场调研员来调查人们到底想通过有线电视系统看到什么样的节目。 - More people are now employed in service industries than in manufacturing.
现在服务业的就业人数要多于制造业。
engage可与hire换用，特指雇用专业人员。
- I have engaged a secretary to deal with all my paperwork.
我雇用了一名秘书来处理我全部的文书工作。 - We're engaging the services of a professional administrator.
我们将聘用专业管理人员为我们服务。
