What were working conditions like for many workers in the Industrial Age

Working conditions for many workers during the Industrial Age were poor. At the beginning of this Industrial Age, there were no laws or regulations in terms of minimum wage, working conditions, or hours limitations. With this in mind, the working conditions varied between citizens but the list below outlines some common themes seen by these individuals.

1) Long work hours - Many workers averaged anywhere from 80-100 hour work weeks, nearly double what the average American works today.

2) Long work weeks - Many workers had to work 6 days a week, only receiving Sunday off for leisure.

3) Unsafe working conditions - Many businesses did not have safety standards in place so workers, especially ones in the mining business, faced constant threat of sustaining a serious injury.

Simply, the working conditions were terrible during the Industrial Revolution. As factories were being built, businesses were in need of workers. With a long line of people willing to work, employers could set wages as low as they wanted because people were willing to do work as long as they got paid.