How does the worker system work?

[Libra]

I think I remember the old worker system where you could just hire workers and they would make money for you each day, and also have the different bonuses to your machinery/equipment they're working on? But now I don't think they make you any money, and they just give you bonuses to your equipment/machinery?

This seems like a major nerf, and I feel like the workers aren't worth hiring at this point. Am I wrong about how they work? Do they still make you money? Does anyone else think they're still worth hiring?

[Metallos]

If you made a long break with playing the game then you should read the patchnotes in the news section. For example:
https://steamcommunity.com/games/451340/announcements/detail/1698306387004158551
https://steamcommunity.com/games/451340/announcements/detail/3465992164338087250
https://steamcommunity.com/games/451340/announcements/detail/1597003298518032860

The new workers are much better because they support you (for example they change buckets or mats and repair machines).

[Libra]

Yea I took a long break. I've noticed most of the changes, and most of them are great (like the reinforced parts). But I feel like the worker system is a lot worse now. Maybe it just sucks at the beginning of the game, and gets better near the end? Idk. All the workers I've seen so far all have crappy bonuses lol. And like 80% of the workers that I've seen all are just for the hog pan... which you really only use for the first day or two. Super pointless to have any workers working the hogpan, if they're not making you any passive income lol.

[dogwalker1]

My 2 cents...

In the early game you need to be careful about hiring. While workers may help you process the earth a bit quicker they are not creating any gold that wasn't already in the ground (which totally makes sense of course) - and as such they may easily cost you more than they're worth.

As you move to higher tiers your gold recovery rate significantly improves (that is, how completely you capture the gold from the ground processed), and you have much more equipment (and more expensive equipment) to maintain. The further you progress in the game the more the workers become worthwhile. By T3 you at the very least want to have a top notch mechanic on the job. As for the others it will then depend on whether you want to mine the claims quicker at the expense of paying people or else keep all the profits for your greedy little self at the expense of working at it until you're 100.

[Libra]

is the mechanic one of the random people you can hire? i've heard mention of a mechanic before, but i'm not sure how to get him?

[Metallos]

Yes, all workers are random.