Not Very Resilient
Last Update: 7/31/2026
AI Resilience Score for Extraction Workers:
33.2%
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.
Med
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.
There are a reasonable number of sources for this result, but there is some disagreement between them.
Contributing sources
AI Resilience Report forHelpers--Extraction Workers
$47,730 median salary•700 annual openings•SOC Code: 47-5081.00
Helpers--Extraction Workers are less resilient to AI impacts than most occupations, according to our analysis of 6 sources.
This career is labeled "Not Very Resilient" because several of its most common tasks are being directly automated by AI. Autonomous haul trucks are already replacing drivers at large mines, and AI-powered drilling systems like Hexagon's Drill Assist are outperforming human operators by 20 to 30 percent, which hits two of the biggest parts of this job.
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This career is labeled "Not Very Resilient" because several of its most common tasks are being directly automated by AI. Autonomous haul trucks are already replacing drivers at large mines, and AI-powered drilling systems like Hexagon's Drill Assist are outperforming human operators by 20 to 30 percent, which hits two of the biggest parts of this job.
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Extraction Workers
Updated Quarterly
How is AI changing Extraction Workers jobs?
If you've ever pictured mining as just pickaxes and hard hats, the reality in 2026 looks a lot more high-tech — but the good news is that AI is mostly helping extraction helpers rather than replacing them. The biggest change is on the haul road: autonomous trucks were first tested in remote iron ore mines in Western Australia in 2008, and now there are nearly 4,000 around the world, with more than half in use in mines in China. In Minnesota, Mesabi Metallics is deploying 400-ton driverless haul trucks as part of a $110 million equipment purchase, directly affecting the "drive moving equipment" task.
AI is also entering drilling — Hexagon's Drill Assist uses an AI engine that monitors machine feedback every 10 milliseconds [1] and has produced productivity gains of 20–30% over the best human operators, helping with the "observe and monitor equipment" task. Deloitte's 2026 Mining and Metals Industry Outlook [2] expects miners to scale autonomous hauling, drilling, AI-enabled process control, and predictive maintenance, while keeping humans in charge of safety-critical decisions. Importantly, a mining engineering professor told Marketplace [3] that the practice in the world shows that automation doesn't reduce jobs — it changes the nature of the job, shifting roles toward control room operators and data analysts.
Hands-on assistance with rigging, cleanup, and equipment dismantling still depends on humans, as a Permian Basin floorhand described in a recent BLS Career Outlook interview [4].
Sources
How fast is AI adoption growing for Extraction Workers?
Adoption is moving quickly in some places and slowly in others. Pushing it forward: a severe skills crunch. The CIM article notes a severe labour shortage in which it can take about a decade to train a driller to expert level, making AI tools attractive.
Global Mining Review predicts smaller, agile miners will lead innovation [5] because they lack legacy systems. Slowing adoption: high equipment costs (those Komatsu trucks aren't cheap), underground navigation limits, union caution, and risk aversion — miners are really risk averse, and the last thing they want is plans designed automatically that aren't good. The encouraging takeaway: human judgment, teamwork, and adaptability still matter, and workers who build digital and safety skills will be well positioned for the future.
Sources
Will AI replace Extraction Workers?
In part. We think AI will eventually automate a real share of this work, but helpers in extraction still bring physical judgment and adaptability that machines haven't mastered yet.
The pressure is real. Autonomous haul trucks are already operating at scale around the world, and AI-assisted drilling tools have shown productivity gains of 20 to 30% over skilled human operators [1]. Deloitte expects miners to keep scaling autonomous hauling, drilling, and predictive maintenance through the coming years [2]. Our 33.2% AI Resilience Score reflects that honestly: this role is more exposed than most.
That said, hands-on work like rigging, cleanup, and equipment dismantling still depends on human presence and physical problem-solving [4]. And a mining engineering professor has pointed out that in practice, automation tends to shift jobs rather than simply eliminate them, moving workers toward control room and data roles [3]. The skills crunch in mining actually creates openings for people willing to grow.
The smartest move for anyone in this field is to treat digital literacy and safety expertise as career assets. Workers who understand both the physical environment and the technology running through it will be the hardest to replace, and the best positioned to step into the higher-skill roles that automation is quietly creating.
Sources
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Latest AI news for Extraction Workers
These articles provide valuable insights for students interested in "Helpers--Extraction Workers." They highlight the dual impact of AI: while it poses risks of job displacement, as noted in the discussion of AI companies prioritizing replacement over support, there are also opportunities for resilience. For instance, AI's role in enhancing supply chain management could lead to more efficient operations, potentially preserving jobs. Understanding these dynamics can help students navigate their future careers in a landscape where adaptability and AI literacy will be crucial for success.
What 81,000 people told us about the economics of AI
www.anthropic.com • 4/22/2026
Our recent survey of 81,000 Claude users shows that people who work in roles that are more exposed to AI have more concerns about AI-driven...
A ‘pound of flesh’ from data centers: one senator’s answer to AI job losses
techcrunch.com • 3/26/2026
Fears of AI-driven job loss are growing fast, and they're fueling backlash against data centers. Sen. Mark Warner suggests taxing them to...
AI companies aim ‘not to help workers, but to replace them'
www.vaticannews.va • 3/4/2026
William Jones of the Future of Life Institute speaks to Vatican News about the current state of AI development, the impact it is already...
Enabled emissions: How AI helps to supercharge oil and gas production
globalwitness.org • 1/27/2026
AI is quietly boosting fossil fuel expansion, helping some of the world's biggest polluters to drill and extract more oil and gas.
The Role of AI in Developing Resilient Supply Chains | GJIA
gjia.georgetown.edu • 2/5/2024
Companies are using AI to manage supply chains, will it enhance supply chain resilience and how will it impact employment?
More Career Info
Career: Helpers--Extraction Workers
They assist miners by carrying tools and equipment, clearing debris, and ensuring safety to help extract minerals and resources from the ground.
Parent Careers
Employment & Wage Data
Median Wage
$47,730
Jobs (2024)
7,000
Growth (2024-34)
-1.7%
Annual Openings
700
Education
High school diploma or equivalent
Experience
None
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2024-2034
Task-Level AI Resilience Scores
AI-generated estimates of task resilience over the next 3 years
1
Repair and maintain automotive and drilling equipment, using hand tools.
2
Provide assistance to extraction craft workers, such as earth drillers and derrick operators.
3
Unload materials, devices and machine parts, using hand tools.
4
Dismantle extracting and boring equipment used for excavation, using hand tools.
5
Signal workers to start geological material extraction or boring.
6
Load materials into well holes or into equipment, using hand tools.
7
Clean up work areas and remove debris after extraction activities are complete.
Tasks are ranked by their AI resilience, with the most resilient tasks shown first. Core tasks are essential functions of this occupation, while supplemental tasks provide additional context.
