No availible workers for factories?

[unmerged(4421)]

Hi
Playing Belgium now. Doing pretty good, although I had to declare a few colonial wars to gain some more provinces and industry. However, I dont see the point of creating any new industries in Belgium because I dont have any free manpower to convert into craftsmen or clerks. My pop is around 5 million, which has increased around 2 million since 1836; its now around 1850.
How long do I have to wait to build and staff more factories? Should I convert farmers into craftsmen? Whats the general strategy for this?
Cheers

 

[unmerged(25597)]

Farmers & Labourers always convert em into craftsmen or clerks, the only reason you'd want farmers or labourers is if you had a good RGO factory like precious metals, sulphur, tobacco, something needed. Otherwise make em into anything.

 

[unmerged(6766)]

The other use for farmers/laborers is historicity. No country in this time period had 100% urban population.

 

[Soulitaire]

some countries still believe they should grow their own food... ts ts ts.
Far better to use your skilled labor for profitable businesses and 'outsource' the farming/mining business

Same goes in the game.

 

[Darkrenown]

Depends what country you are. If you are the UK or Prussia and you stop mining coal the market will collapse, so don't stop mining something if you are supping half of europe