According to Page Smith, one of the conditions faced by industrial workers in the late 1800s was a lack of job security, with workers facing frequent layoffs and periods of unemployment. Additionally, workers often lacked basic rights and protections, such as the right to organize and bargain collectively, making them vulnerable to exploitation and mistreatment from their employers. Workers also faced long working hours, dangerous conditions, and low wages, all of which contributed to their difficult working conditions.