Q4 2025 Insights
The current state of the workforce in the Mining and Extraction industries, encompassing Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction, presents a complex picture of high compensation paired with challenging employment trends and overwhelmingly negative worker sentiment, according to recent US Department of Labor data and social media discussions.
Official US employment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction sector experienced a decline in employment by 6,000 jobs in August 2025, a shift following a period of little change over the preceding year. This suggests a slight contraction or instability in the workforce size in the immediate short term. Despite this recent dip, the industry remains a high-paying field, with the average annual salary significantly exceeding the national average. Wages for workers, particularly production and non-supervisory employees, show robust hourly earnings, reflecting the specialized and often demanding nature of the work. Historically, this industry has had a high concentration of male workers, with a noticeable wage gap, as male workers, on average, earn more than their female counterparts. The job growth projection for the sector over the next ten years is projected to be slow, signaling limited long-term expansion in the overall number of positions.
Worker sentiment across socials, reflecting discussions over the past month, paints a generally negative and often toxic picture of the work environment. The primary theme of conversation revolves around the challenging and frequently toxic workplace culture, which workers describe as being rife with "wannabe alpha-male personalities," micro-management, and a pervasive "boomer” mentality. This toxicity is frequently cited as a major source of stress, leading some workers to feel burnt out or generally "done" with the industry despite the attractive compensation.
For workers on Fly-In, Fly-Out (FIFO) or remote residential schedules, a common reality in the sector, the mental health impact is particularly pronounced, with discussions focusing on the immense pressure, difficulty maintaining work-life balance, and the strain on personal and family relationships. The high pay is consistently acknowledged as the main factor for tolerating the challenging conditions, essentially becoming the primary survival mechanism for many. The strategy often discussed is a transactional one: to "get in and get out" once enough money is saved, viewing the high-paying job as a means to a financial end rather than a long-term career fulfillment.
In terms of future outlook, there is a clear division and active exploration of new paths. Older, experienced workers often discuss being stuck in high-paying but unpleasant positions, while younger or technical workers (like engineers) are actively contemplating or moving into different roles or industries, such as environmental consulting, finance, or corporate strategy. This exodus is driven by a search for better work-life balance and less toxic management, leveraging the technical and commercial skills gained in mining. However, there is also a counter-sentiment acknowledging the long-term, foundational necessity of the mining industry for global resource demand, suggesting that for those who can tolerate the culture, job security and high wages will likely persist, especially in high-demand mineral sectors like copper and gold.
August 2025
It all begins with an idea.
Employee sentiment in the mining industry is a complex mix of high compensation and significant personal sacrifice. Professionals on social media and in career surveys report that the high salaries are a major motivator, but they come at a great cost, including health risks and job cuts. The sentiment is that the job can be brutal, leading to both mental and physical exhaustion from long hours, often 80-90 hours a week. Workers often dread "black days," where the last day of a long break is ruined by the dread of returning to the mines, plant, or factory. The isolation and difficulty of maintaining a life outside of the job are also major themes. Work in this industry leaves little time and energy for side-gigs, making this tough especially in this economy. The general feeling is that while the financial rewards are appealing, they require a great deal of personal and social sacrifice with risks always looming overhead.
The mining and extraction industry is experiencing a strong demand for jobs in 2025, driven by the global need for critical minerals used in green technologies like electric vehicles and renewable energy. A recent industry report indicates that nearly half of the current workforce will retire by 2029, creating a significant "labor shortage" and a high demand for skilled workers. While overall employment in the sector has shown little change over the last 30 days, job growth is currently outpacing many other sectors, creating a temporarily stable job market with excellent opportunities for those willing to work in the field. Tariffs have driven some of this with US-based companies focusing on US-based mining and extraction sites have been hiring and maintaining worker counts.