In most Bulgarian factories at the beginning of the 20th century, water power was still the main source of energy. Many factories were built near rivers to take advantage of this natural resource. However, electricity was beginning to replace water power in several industrial centers. For example, in Gabrovo and Sliven, two of the most active textile towns, electric motors were already being used in most textile factories. This marked the beginning of a slow but steady transition toward more modern industrial practices.
Nationality and Composition of Workers
Earlier, we discussed the total number of factory workers in Bulgaria. Out of 6,149 persons employed (not including 877 owners and managers), only 399 workers were foreign nationals, among whom eight were women. This shows that the Bulgarian workforce was largely made up of native citizens, and the role of foreign labor in the country’s industrial sector was still quite small Private Sofia Tours.
Education of Industrial Workers
Education levels among industrial workers were still limited. Of the total number of employees:
4,114 workers had received some level of education.
3,035 workers (including 1,265 men and 770 women) were illiterate.
This means that about 30% of all workers could neither read nor write. The figures highlight the need for better access to education in order to support industrial progress and efficiency.
Property Ownership Among Workers
The economic condition of factory workers was also modest. Most employees did not own property. The table below summarizes their financial situation:
Property Status Men Women Total Percentage
No property 3,291 1,663 4,954 80.56%
Own a house 249 61 310 5.04%
Own a house and other property 725 10 735 11.95%
Own other property, but no house 146 4 150 2.45%
Total 4,411 1,738 6,149 100%
From this, it is clear that four out of five workers had no property at all. Only a small minority owned houses or other assets, showing that industrial laborers lived in humble conditions, depending almost entirely on their wages.
Age and Working Hours
Although exact details are provided elsewhere, records show that the majority of workers were young adults, typically between 18 and 40 years old. The average working day lasted 10 to 12 hours, which was common for industrial labor during that time. Labor laws and protections were still developing, so working conditions were often difficult.
The Growth of Bulgarian Industry
In summary, the industrial development of Bulgaria at this period had made significant progress within a relatively short time. Factories were expanding, electric power was spreading, and local industries were beginning to compete with foreign goods.
However, the industrial class remained poor, education levels were low, and labor conditions were still hard. Despite these challenges, the signs of growth were strong. Based on this progress, it was reasonable to believe that within a few decades, Bulgarian industry would double or even triple in size, helping to modernize the entire nation.