The largest portion of the workforce in the 1800s was in the agricultural sector. This was because the vast majority of the population lived in rural areas and relied on farming for their livelihood. In the United States, for example, over 80% of the population lived in rural areas in 1800, and the majority of these people were engaged in farming. In Europe, the situation was similar, with the vast majority of the population living in rural areas and relying on agriculture for their livelihood.