It is pretty clear there will be no more workers. The game has obviously reached the necessary critical mass of players that the time of getting to advanced ages for free is over; if you want to continue at any meaningful speed, you'll have to pay. You only need to see the 'plethora' of Level 198 bases owned by whales that more paid content is needed, they've run out of major things to spend their money on.
Even if we all quit tomorrow, our work is done. We've built countless millions of bases ranging from dawn age to high Global - the code exists in war bases to reset traps, fill markets/mills, keep generals on duty, replenish TC defenders automatically - you stay logged out for 30 days and your base can keep going for ever looking like you're at home.
This is the beginning of the end for us freeloaders.