Vulnerable
Last Update: 7/31/2026
AI Resilience Score for Extraction Workers, Other:
19.8%
Median Score
Meaningful human contribution
Measures the parts of the occupation that still require a human touch. This score averages data from up to four AI exposure datasets, focusing on the role’s resilience against automation.
Low
Long-term employer demand
Predicts the health of the job market for this role through 2034. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics data, it balances projected annual job openings (60%) with overall employment growth (40%).
Low
Sustained economic opportunity
Measures future earning potential and career flexibility. This score is a blend of total projected labor income (67%) and the role’s inherent ability to adapt to economic and technological shifts (33%).
Med
This reflects the reliability of your score based on the number of data sources available for this career and how closely those sources agree on the outlook. A higher confidence means more consistent evidence from labor experts and AI models.
Limited data sources are available, or existing sources show notable disagreement on the outlook for this occupation.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forExtraction Workers, All Other
$57,010 median salary•700 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-5099.00
Extraction Workers, All Other are much less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 4 sources.
Extraction work is labeled "Vulnerable" because the most physically demanding and repetitive tasks at the heart of this career, like hauling materials, conducting inspections, and monitoring remote sites, are being taken over by autonomous trucks, robots, and AI-powered sensors at a rapid pace. The numbers tell a clear story: over 3,800 autonomous haul trucks are already operating in mines worldwide, and the OECD estimates that more than 43% of current mining roles face high automation risk.
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Extraction work is labeled "Vulnerable" because the most physically demanding and repetitive tasks at the heart of this career, like hauling materials, conducting inspections, and monitoring remote sites, are being taken over by autonomous trucks, robots, and AI-powered sensors at a rapid pace. The numbers tell a clear story: over 3,800 autonomous haul trucks are already operating in mines worldwide, and the OECD estimates that more than 43% of current mining roles face high automation risk.
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Extraction Workers, Other
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Extraction Workers, Other jobs?
If you've ever pictured an oil rig or open-pit mine, you probably imagined lots of people in hard hats. That picture is changing fast. Between July 2024 and July 2025, the global fleet of autonomous haul trucks jumped to 3,832 autonomous haul trucks operating across surface mines worldwide — including both fully autonomous units and trucks equipped with autonomous-ready systems, an 84% year-on-year increase, according to Mining Doc's 2026 review [1].
In Canada, Imperial Oil has completed the conversion of its entire heavy-haul truck fleet at the Kearl Oil Sands Mine in Alberta to fully autonomous operation, with 81 trucks now operating without human drivers. In oil and gas, World Oil reports [2] that Ex-certified robotic platforms offer an alternative by conducting inspections in hazardous zones without requiring human entry, equipped with optical, thermal, acoustic and environmental sensors. The Society of Petroleum Engineers' Journal of Petroleum Technology [3] notes that AI has not replaced human talent; it has amplified it while transforming what expertise means — so much of today's AI is augmentation (drones, sensors, predictive maintenance) layered on top of human crews who still handle judgment calls.
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Extraction Workers, Other?
Adoption is moving quickly because the math is compelling: mines and rigs are dangerous, remote, and expensive to staff. Skillings Mining Review [4] cites that the OECD estimates that more than 43% of current mining roles are at high risk of automation, while McKinsey forecasts that tech-enabled and ESG-focused jobs will grow 2.5x faster than traditional extraction roles, and the rise of autonomous haulage systems, predictive maintenance tools and remote asset management has already begun to shape the workforce, with TPD Workforce Solutions reporting a 42% increase in automation-linked roles in 2025; remote operation centres are becoming central hubs, enabling companies such as Rio Tinto, BHP and Vale to operate mines from urban command centres rather than on-site teams. Safety pressure is another accelerator — Robotics & Automation News [5] explains that in oil and gas, one of the critical applications centres around lone worker monitoring in remote and offshore environments, where a smartwatch detecting and alerting worker malaise can mean the difference between a rescue and a fatality.
That said, headcount won't vanish overnight. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics [6] projects that mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction employment will decline only about 1.6% between 2024 and 2034 — a slow shrink, not a cliff. The good news: human skills like physical troubleshooting, ethical judgment, ESG knowledge, and supervising robotic fleets remain valuable, and young workers who pair extraction know-how with data and tech literacy will be the ones companies fight to hire.
Sources
Will AI replace Extraction Workers, Other?
Yes. We do think that eventually AI will replace much of this work as it's done today, but the transition is gradual and the skills you build here can carry you forward.
Our 19.8% AI Resilience Score puts this role in genuinely vulnerable territory. The numbers behind that reflect real change already underway: the global fleet of autonomous haul trucks grew 84% year-on-year to 3,832 units [1], and robotic platforms are now conducting hazardous inspections that once required human crews on-site [2]. The OECD estimates more than 43% of current mining roles are at high risk of automation, and McKinsey forecasts that tech-enabled jobs will grow 2.5 times faster than traditional extraction roles [4]. Employer demand through 2034 is weak, and that is the honest picture.
What stays human, at least for now, is physical troubleshooting, judgment in unpredictable environments, and oversight of the robotic systems doing the heavy lifting. The workers who hold on longest will be the ones pairing extraction experience with data literacy and remote operations skills. Companies like Rio Tinto and BHP are building urban command centers to manage mines from a distance [4], and those seats need people who understand both the technology and the terrain. If you are early in this career, treat your field knowledge as a foundation and build toward fleet supervision, predictive maintenance, or ESG roles. The job is changing faster than most, but your expertise is not worthless.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Extraction Workers, Other
These articles highlight the transformative role of AI in extraction careers. For instance, the Microsoft piece shows how AI enhances efficiency in mining, suggesting that workers can leverage technology to improve operations. Meanwhile, the Digital Journal article illustrates the potential job disruption caused by AI, emphasizing the need for workers to adapt and upskill. By understanding these trends, students can develop AI resilience, ensuring they remain valuable in an evolving workforce shaped by technology.
Oracle’s mass layoffs signal the threat of AI for workers
www.digitaljournal.com • 4/2/2026
Oracle's recent job layoffs reveal a trend with AI and its impact on employment at large.
The Emerging 'Hybrid Professional': GenAI's Impact on Skill Demand Changes in the UAE
www.orfonline.org • 1/12/2026
Task-level analysis of Generative AI's impact on the UAE labour market, revealing occupational polarisation, automation risks,...
Agents, robots, and us: Skill partnerships in the age of AI
www.mckinsey.com • 11/25/2025
Learn how AI is transforming work, focusing on the collaboration between humans, agents, and robots.
Africa’s AI Policy Ambitions Ignore Energy, Climate and Labor Concerns
techpolicy.press • 10/21/2025
Africa's push to expand AI capacity is understandable, but it overlooks energy use, environmental impact, and labor exploitation,...
Embracing AI and adaptive cloud to drive digital transformation in mining
www.microsoft.com • 5/29/2025
Explore how AI and adaptive cloud are fueling the mining industry's digital transformation, improving efficiency, and more Learn more.
More Career Info
Career: Extraction Workers, All Other
They remove materials like oil, gas, or minerals from the earth using specialized tools and equipment to help produce energy and raw materials.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$57,010
Jobs (2024)
6,300
Growth (2024-34)
+1.4%
Annual Openings
700
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
