Wage labor refers to a system where individuals earn a wage or salary in exchange for their work, typically in an employment relationship. This form of labor became prominent during the rise of early American industry, as factories and businesses sought to maximize efficiency and productivity by hiring workers for specific tasks. The shift towards wage labor marked a significant transition from agrarian economies to industrialized societies, reshaping social structures and economic relationships.
congrats on reading the definition of wage labor. now let's actually learn it.