Prior to the Industrial Revolution, the majority of people in England worked in the agricultural sector. England had a largely agrarian economy, meaning that farming was the primary economic activity. People were employed in various agricultural jobs, such as farming their own land, working as farm laborers, or tending to livestock. Other major occupations during this period included craftspeople, merchants, domestic servants, and tradesmen. Additionally, many individuals were involved in cottage industries, where they produced goods in their homes to be sold or traded.