Hello! Maybe you're missing a pickaxe by any chance? I just tested it and gathering copper works well on my save.
#villagers wont gather copper
sick flower
pseudo vessel
Ok i wiill check
vagrant bobcat
By chance did you build mines at south east of 1st village around copper nodes? There should be a wolf cave nearby.
My workers also refuse to do any kind of work there be it mining or woodcutting. It works fine when I'm there but when I'm away they just idle.
pseudo vessel
Yea that is where my mine is lol