Two million workers are employed processing goods for electronic firms.

[kadioguy]

Two million workers are employed processing goods for electronic firms.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/process
---------
1. Why not "... are employed to process ..."?
2. Is the pattern of the original sentence the same as "He is seated here reading a book"?

 

[Tarheel]

I need to to be getting back to bed, so this will be brief.

The phrase says that's what they are doing: processing goods.

(It's 1:33am here. I've got to go. )

 

[PaulMatthews]

Two million workers are employed processing goods for electronic firms.
https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/process
---------
1. Why not "... are employed to process ..."?
2. Is the pattern of the original sentence the same as "He is seated here reading a book"?

[1] Two million workers are employed [processing goods for electronic firms].
[2] Two million workers are employed [to process goods for electronic firms].

There's a difference:

The bracketed gerund-participial clause in [1] is a modifier in clause structure. More precisely, it's a depictive adjunct, giving descriptive information about two million workers. Note that it is interpreted with progressive aspectuality: two million workers are processing goods for electronic firms.

The bracketed infinitival clause in [2] is again a modifier in clause structure, but this time it's a purpose adjunct: it ascribes a purpose to employing two million workers.

 

[kadioguy]

[1] Two million workers are employed [processing goods for electronic firms].
[2] Two million workers are employed [to process goods for electronic firms].

There's a difference:

The bracketed gerund-participial passive clause in [1] is a modifier in clause structure. [...]

Thanks, PaulMatthews.

As far as I know, this term "gerund-participial" comes from The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language.

However, I can't see that the bracketed part is a passive clause. The unbracketed part is passive, though.

 

[PaulMatthews]

Thanks, PaulMatthews.


However, I can't see that the bracketed part is a passive clause. The unbracketed part is passive, though.

Quite right, I reworded my answer, but forgot to delete that bit. Thanks for spotting it.