What's a word or phrase for someone who has worked hard all their life

Question

Someone who has been worn down by a harsh working-life?

Answer 1

I think haggard fits the bill here.

HAGGARD

having a gaunt, wasted, or exhausted appearance, as from prolonged suffering, exertion, or anxiety; worn

Answer 2

Such a person would become careworn.

adjective

1. showing signs of care or worry; fatigued by trouble or anxiety; haggard:

"a careworn old woman."

Reference

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/careworn

Answer 3

I think toiler may suggest the idea of a hard worker:

• Toilers are people who work long and hard. Any employer would be grateful to have toilers as employees.

• If you know that to toil is to work hard, then the meaning of toiler won't be a surprise. A toiler works strenuously; you won't see a toiler hanging out by the water cooler. People with physical jobs such as construction workers and miners are often referred to as toilers.

(www.vocabulary.com)

Answer 4

slogger

someone who works diligently for long hours. (TFD)

Answer 5

workhorse (noun):

• a person or machine that dependably performs hard work over a long period of time ODO

• someone who does a lot of hard or boring work Macmillan

Answer 6

Well, yes, exactly:

downtrodden

abused or oppressed by people in power

... but you'd be using it in a more literal and less figurative sense. Worn down by work with little reward.