In the early days of power plants, what type of workers were initially hired for manual labor?

In the early days of power plants, the workforce primarily consisted of unskilled laborers who were hired for manual tasks. These workers typically did not require specialized training or education, making them suitable for basic and repetitive operations involved in power generation. The nature of the work at that time often revolved around physical tasks, such as fueling, maintaining machinery, and performing general labor – roles that were accessible to individuals without formal training or technical knowledge.

As technology advanced and the operations of power plants became more complex, the demand for trained and qualified personnel capable of managing sophisticated equipment and processes increased. This shift necessitated a workforce that had a higher level of skill and education, which was not the case during the initial stages of operation when maintenance and operation were primarily handled through manual labor by workers who were largely untrained.