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Labor Market Information Center

2022 Annual Report

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Natural Resources & Mining Supersector

The Natural Resources and Mining supersector is made up of the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector and the Mining sector. Businesses in this supersector grow crops, raise livestock or extract natural mineral solids at a mine site, to name just a few examples.

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting

NAICS Sector 11

The Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector added 448 workers in 2022, an increase of 7.1% from 2021, for an annual average employment level of 6,787. The annual pay for 2022 was $46,940, an increase of $3,047 (6.9%) compared to 2021. This industry ranked 13th in employment and 12th in number of establishments in the state in 2022. This industry ranked 14th in average annual wages. Three subsectors under Agriculture reported gains in workers between 2021 and 2022.

Businesses in Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) had a 28.2% employment gain, followed by Crop Production (NAICS 111) with 8.1% growth, and Animal Production (NAICS 112) gained 3.7%. Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) had no change in employment numbers, while Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (NAICS 114) had a slight decrease. Actual worker numbers by subsector in order of largest to smallest are Animal Production (3,997), Crop Production (1,967), Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (719), Forestry and Logging (100), and Fishing, Hunting and Trapping (4).

In 2022 all the subsectors showed an annual wage increase. Fishing, Hunting, and Trapping had the largest percent increase of 82.5%; however, there are only four workers in that subsector, and it can be highly volatile. Crop Production (NAICS 111) showed a respectable increase of $2,965 or 7.3%. Animal Production (NAICS 112) increased $3,139 or 7.1%, followed by Forestry and Logging (NAICS 113) increasing $1,498 or 3.2%, and lastly Support Activities for Agriculture and Forestry (NAICS 115) increased $1,605 or 3%.

Worker levels in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting sector have been decreasing over the years due to consolidations and better technology that make generating higher output easier and more efficient. Technology advancements in equipment and chemicals has had a negative impact on the demand for workers due to less demand for hours worked in the field despite increased production.

Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction

NAICS Sector 21

The Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction sector increased by 76 workers (7.5%) between 2021 and 2022. This gain brought the total for the sector to 1,083 workers. All three subsectors within this sector gained workers during 2022. The average annual pay for the overall sector increased by $8,311 (10.2%), bringing the average annual pay to $89,760 in 2022. This sector ranked third among the highest paying industries.

The Oil and Gas Extraction (NAICS 211) subsector’s establishment numbers remained unchanged, and the number workers showed a slight increase. Employment increased by two workers or 9.1%, and the number of establishments held steady at two. This industry is comprised of establishments primarily engaged in operating and/or developing oil and gas field properties, and establishments primarily engaged in recovering liquid hydrocarbons from oil and gas field gasses. This subsector presented an increase of 27.8% or $23,636 in annual pay over the last year. This industry is very small, so a small increase has a bigger impact on percentages. This subsector also has many jobs that are temporary.

The Mining (Except Oil & Gas) subsector (NAICS 212) added eight workers (0.9%). This subsector includes activities such as engaging in mine site development and preparation, and mining metallic minerals and nonmetallic minerals, including coal. The employment level and number of establishments increased slightly from 2021 to 2022. The annual pay for 2022 was $74,148, a $3,994 or 5.7% increase compared to 2021.

Support Activities for Mining (NAICS 213) gained 66 workers (47.8%). The increase brought the total worker level in this subsector to 204 workers in 2022. This subsector provides support services, on a contract or fee basis, required for mining and quarrying of minerals and for the extraction of oil and gas. Establishments performing exploration (except geophysical surveying and mapping) for minerals on a contract or fee basis are included in this subsector. Exploration includes traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites.

Annual pay also showed an increase of $2,772 or 1.8% over the previous year. Workforce data in a small subsector such as this can be highly volatile, sometimes changing drastically from season to season. Two of the subsector’s employment levels are under 205 workers, so a gain or a loss of just one establishment can have a large effect on percentage changes in annual pay and employment.

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