With the development of new technologies and manufacturing processes, the nature of factory work changed. Now, machines could do the heavy labor formerly done by men. This meant that women and children could work in factories. In fact, factories sometimes hired entire families. They earned hourly wages. While this could bring in a steady income, that income was not high. Women earned less than men, and children’s wages were especially low. Based on this paragraph, the most likely central trend of the Industrial Revolution was increased social support for families. increased physical labor by workers. new and improved technologies. improved working conditions in factories.