Scientifically speaking, work is done by a force. The equation for work is force x distance. This means that a force must be applied, and the object receiving that force must move a distance. This concept always frustrates students to learn about because I have them hold their textbooks out at arm's length and hold the book there until the muscle fatigues and can no longer hold the book up. I then explain that despite how tired their arm is, the arm did no work keeping the book in that position. Work was done to get the book into that position; however, once in position, no work was being done because the force applied didn't cause a distance to be covered.
To go back to the original question, if work was done, then a force was applied; however, not all forces result in work being done. As for what applies the force, that could be an individual, but it doesn't have to be. Gravity, for example, is a force that isn't dependent on any individual, and it is capable of doing work.
Yes. I am assuming your question here is in reference to the labor force and the idea of work being production and work in the business sense. In that regard, it is both. Work is performed by individuals, single operators who control small areas of input in the process of production or labor overall. But, in a larger sense, the entire workforce is operating as a unit to perform work. So, in that regard, work is done by both individuals and a force.
If you are speaking about the physics idea of work, which is possible, it still hold true. Work is the result of a force acting over a distance, but work can be performed by an individual (an individual can create the force). Different topics, but same overall idea—both forces and individuals create work.
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