Hard-working

adj.capable, resilienteveryday

What it means

Giving steady, serious effort to work that needs doing.

Reach for it when praising a person's dependable effort over time

The hard-working apprentice practiced every joint until it held cleanly.

everyday
busy
you only mean continuously occupied
not when Busyness may produce little value, so it is weaker praise than hard-working.
everyday
gritty
effort continues through discomfort or setbacks
not when It is a poor fit for careful routine work that has not demanded adversity.
warm
dedicated
commitment to a cause, craft, or team drives the work
not when It does not guarantee strong day-to-day effort when commitment is only emotional.
warm
tireless
someone keeps contributing with striking energy
not when Use caution with ordinary sustainable effort, since tireless can exaggerate.
professional
conscientious
the worker is careful about duties and standards
not when Conscientious is not the word for speed or volume without careful responsibility.
professional
diligent
care and steady attention matter as much as effort
not when Diligent is too narrow when physical stamina or sheer output is the main praise.
professional
productive
the important fact is useful output
not when Productive can describe results without praising effort or character.
formal
industrious
the person stays productively occupied without prompting
not when Do not choose it for one heroic burst of effort; it suggests a settled habit.

hard-working employee
A hard-working employee kept the archive accurate during the busy move.
hard-working team
The hard-working team repaired every classroom before term began.
hard-working nature
Her hard-working nature showed in the quiet preparation behind each event.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.