Staff Buildings Without Wasting Money

Economy Quick Help Beginner v1.0
Updated for v1.0.x | Last updated: 2025-01-15

Symptoms

You're experiencing these problems:

  • New buildings add upkeep but produce little: You've built manufactories and production buildings, but they're not generating expected income.
  • Jobs remain unfilled: Buildings show "Unstaffed" warnings, meaning they're costing maintenance without producing anything.
  • Inputs are missing: Buildings require inputs (raw materials, goods) that aren't available locally, so they can't produce outputs.
  • Income doesn't increase despite new buildings: You've expanded production, but your economy isn't growing as expected.
Diagnosis: Your buildings aren't working because they're either unstaffed or missing inputs. Both problems waste maintenance money without generating income.

Fixes

Follow this sequence to fix staffing and input issues:

Step 1: Sequence Food → Housing → Jobs

Ensure population can meet needs, then expand production. Populations need food and housing before they can work. If these basics aren't met, jobs remain unfilled.

  • Check food satisfaction: Ensure sufficient food production before building manufactories.
  • Check housing capacity: Ensure sufficient housing before adding urban jobs.
  • Then add jobs: Only after food and housing are satisfied should you build production buildings.
💡 Tip
Rule: Never stack new buildings before staffing existing ones. Fill jobs first, then expand.

Step 2: Don't Add Jobs Without Workers

Buildings cost maintenance even when unstaffed. If you build manufactories without workers, you're paying maintenance for nothing. Check employment levels before building more structures.

Staff existing buildings before expanding. Only build new structures when current buildings are at or near full staffing. This ensures your economy grows efficiently.

Step 3: Secure Inputs

If a building consumes goods you don't have locally, import via your main market with sufficient capacity. Buildings need inputs to produce outputs. Check what inputs your buildings require and ensure they're available.

Use marketplaces to unlock imports. Marketplaces enable imports from other markets. Build marketplaces in your primary trade hub to access needed inputs.

Build roads/ports to raise access so inputs actually arrive. Even with marketplaces, poor infrastructure means inputs won't reach your buildings. Build roads and ports to ensure reliable supply.

Prevention

Avoid wasting money on unproductive buildings:

  • Expand only after current buildings are at or near full staffing: Don't build new structures until existing ones are working properly. Check employment levels regularly.
  • Keep a watchlist of employment and input flows each year: Monitor staffing and inputs regularly. Fix shortages before they stall production.
  • Check food and housing before building production: Ensure populations can work before building manufactories. Fix food/housing shortages first.
  • Secure inputs before building dependent structures: If a building needs specific inputs, ensure those inputs are available (locally or via trade) before building.
  • Build infrastructure before production: Roads and ports enable reliable supply. Build infrastructure first, then production.
💡 Tip
Efficient order: Infrastructure → Food/Housing → Staffing → Production → Expansion. Don't skip steps.

Quick Fix Checklist

  • Check food satisfaction—fix shortages first
  • Check housing capacity—ensure populations can work
  • Staff existing buildings before building new ones
  • Secure inputs (locally or via trade) before building dependent structures
  • Build infrastructure (roads/ports) to ensure reliable supply
  • Monitor employment and input flows regularly
  • Only expand when current buildings are at or near full staffing

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