The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word WIELDED
I've seen this crossword clue in The Daily Telegraph
W
I
E
L
D
E
D
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "employed" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case employed = wielded.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does WIELDED mean?
WIELDED verb- To command, rule over; to possess or own.
- To control, to guide or manage.
- To handle with skill and ease, especially a weapon or tool.
- To exercise (authority or influence) effectively.