How do people in different classes of colonial society earned a living?

In colonial societies, individuals in different classes earned a living through various means reflective of their social status. Wealthy elites often engaged in land ownership, trade, and investment in plantations or enterprises, benefiting from the labor of enslaved people or indentured servants. Middle-class merchants, artisans, and small farmers relied on trade, craftsmanship, and local agriculture. In contrast, lower-class individuals, including laborers and indentured servants, typically worked in manual labor or service roles, often facing harsh conditions with limited economic mobility.