How did the Black Death lead to a shortage of workers in Europe?

The Black Death, a devastating pandemic that swept through Europe between 1347 and 1351, caused a severe shortage of workers primarily due to the massive loss of life, with an estimated 25 million people—roughly one-third of the population—perishing.12

This widespread mortality led to a drastic reduction in the amount of land under cultivation, as there were simply not enough laborers to work the fields. The resulting labor shortage fundamentally altered the economic landscape and weakened the traditional feudal system. To retain their tenant farmers and maintain productivity, landowners were compelled to abandon rigid labor services in favor of offering wages or money rents. Consequently, this shift empowered surviving peasants and artisans, who saw a general rise in their wages and gained new economic fluidity within a previously rigid social structure.123