Lumber Empire Workers: Hiring, Limits and Upgrades
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Workers chop trees and carry logs and processed wood. Expand your crew at the WORKERS stand, then improve their movement, load size and chopping damage through WORKER UPGRADES.
Enter HIRE at the WORKERS stand and buy the next worker with cash. Rebirth increases your worker capacity. Hire when you need more labor, upgrade Carry for frequent small loads, Speed for slow travel, or Axe for slow chopping. If products are already backing up, fix the downstream connection or output route first.
Hire Workers at the WORKERS Stand
- Enter the HIRE circle at the WORKERS stand.
- Compare Current Workers with Max Workers to check that you have an open slot.
- Read the cash button for the next worker's price, then purchase the hire. A Worker hired message confirms the purchase.
The cash price rises as your crew grows:
| Worker being hired | Cash cost | Hiring condition |
|---|---|---|
| First | $15 | Rehiring after rebirth |
| Second | $75 | 1 current worker |
| Third | $300 | 2 current workers |
| Fourth | $1,500 | 3 current workers |
| Eighth | $900,000 | 7 current workers |
| Ninth | $3,200,000 | 8 current workers |
Use the next-hire button to price your current purchase; the number under Current Workers is the crew you already have.
Increase Worker Capacity through Rebirth
When your crew reaches Max Workers, rebirth increases the number of available slots.
| Progression stage | Worker capacity |
|---|---|
| Before the first rebirth | 5 |
| After Rebirth 1 | 6 |
| After Rebirth 2 | 7 |
| After Rebirth 4 | 9 |
| After Rebirth 5 | 10 |
The 10-worker capacity belongs to the Rebirth 5 stage. The Rebirth 6 reward preview includes another worker slot.
A normal rebirth resets your current cash and plot, and you must rehire your workers. Plan for rebuilding before using rebirth to expand the crew; see the rebirth requirements and reset guide.
Your best owned employee automatically determines your workers' appearance and employee money multiplier. For those bonuses and employee identities, use the employee index.
Worker Speed, Carry and Axe Upgrade Costs
Use the WORKER UPGRADES panel beside the WORKERS stand. Choose the stat that slows your crew down, purchase its upgrade, and read the new value and next price on the panel.
- Worker Speed improves movement between tasks.
- Worker Carry increases the number of logs carried per trip.
- Worker Axe increases chopping damage.
Worker Speed
| Speed upgrade | Cash cost |
|---|---|
| 12 → 14 | $200 |
| 14 → 16 | $800 |
| 18 → 20 | $10,000 |
| 20 → 22 | $30,000 |
Worker Speed reaches MAX at 22 on the upgrade panel.
Worker Carry
| Carry upgrade | Cash cost |
|---|---|
| 1 → 2 logs per trip | $250 |
| 2 → 3 logs per trip | $2,000 |
| 3 → 4 logs per trip | $25,000 |
| 4 → 5 logs per trip | $300,000 |
| 6 → 7 logs per trip | $65,000,000 |
| 7 → 8 logs per trip | $1,000,000,000 |
The 7 → 8 upgrade appears as $1000M on the panel. Seven logs is therefore still an upgradeable Carry level.
Worker Axe
| Axe upgrade | Cash cost |
|---|---|
| 1 → 2 damage | $400 |
| 3 → 4 damage | $9,000 |
| 4 → 5 damage | $30,000 |
Worker Axe reaches MAX at 5 damage.
Robux upgrade alternatives
These buttons purchase individual stat upgrades:
| Upgrade | Robux alternative |
|---|---|
| Speed 12 → 14 | 9 Robux |
| Carry 1 → 2 logs | 9 Robux |
| Axe 1 → 2 damage | 9 Robux |
| Carry 6 → 7 logs | 16 Robux |
| Carry 7 → 8 logs | 16 Robux |
Hire Another Worker or Improve the Current Team
Watch where work slows down before spending. The best purchase is the one that addresses that delay.
| What is slowing production? | Recommended investment | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Too few workers supplying and moving wood | Another worker, if a slot is open | Adds labor for chopping and carrying |
| Repeated trips with small loads | Worker Carry | Moves more logs per trip |
| Long stretches spent walking | Worker Speed | Reduces travel time |
| Too much time spent chopping | Worker Axe | Raises damage per hit |
| Products accumulating after processing | Fix the downstream connection or output route | More incoming wood will add to the backlog |
Early on, Carry can be the better first purchase when hauling is the problem. Moving from 1 to 2 logs costs $250, compared with $300 for a third worker. The Carry upgrade doubles the log load per trip; another worker is the more relevant choice if you need additional labor across tasks.
Later prices can favor hiring. The eighth worker costs $900,000, while Carry 6 → 7 costs $65 million. If you still have a slot and need more labor, that hire is a much smaller cash commitment. The expensive Carry upgrade makes more sense when load size is the specific delay you need to address.
For a backed-up line, use the conveyor and output troubleshooting guide. To compare worker spending with machines and transport, see the money and upgrade priorities guide.
Paid Hiring and Speed Options
The Hire Workers menu also offers these Robux hiring buttons:
| Hiring button | Price |
|---|---|
| x1 | 64 Robux |
| x3 | 120 Robux |
| x5 | 200 Robux |
For individual stat purchases, compare the Robux upgrade alternatives above with the cash price for that exact tier.
The separate x2 Worker Speed gamepass has its own entry in the gamepass catalog.