Critical Minerals Could Be A Threat To America's Security. Mineworkers, on the other hand, are in short supply

SURFACE MINING

The mines of America are open for business. Not necessarily for coal, but for vital minerals deemed critical for economic and national security by the Biden administration, such as lithium for battery power or aluminum for wind turbines.

Critical Minerals Could Be A Threat To America's Security. Mineworkers, on the other hand, are in short supply

However, there is a snag. Companies are having difficulty finding miners to recruit. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in mining and geological engineering will expand by 4% between 2019 and 2029. As the demand for these minerals grows, fewer skilled workers are available to fill employment openings in the industry.

"We need additional personnel," says Catherine Joyner, a mining expert. "If it stays at this level, our industry will not be able to sustain itself."

Like many other employees in the United States, Mineworkers have utilized the outbreak to rethink their employment. According to mining economist David Hammond, many people have changed careers or retired outright.

It's not easy to mine important minerals and metals. Workers use massive machinery the size of houses and deal with explosives in subterranean and surface mines. Engineers, metallurgists, and mine managers are professionals who plan and coordinate mine operations.

Job opportunities in the industry are well-paid. According to BLS data from May 2020, the average pay of an underground mining machine operator and extraction worker is $56,000, and mining and geological engineers earn upwards of $90,000. According to Joyner, those drawn to the job tend to stay for decades. However, the remuneration does not always outweigh the job's emotional and physical toll.