Metal ore mining

NAICS Code: 212200

Employment 2024
44,900
Projected 2034
48,400
Growth Rate
+7.9%
Net Job Change
+3,500
The verdict

BLS projects Metal ore mining to grow +7.9% through 2034 - 5.5 points faster than the 2.4% average across 291 U.S. industries, faster-growing than 87% of them. It is one of the faster-growing industries in the dataset.

+7.9%
Growth 2024-34
87th
growth percentile
44,900
Workers (2024, ×1k)
+3,500
Net jobs (×1k)

Where Metal ore mining sits among all industries

Projected 2024-2034 growth across 291 U.S. industries (BLS). This industry is marked in rose.

Where Metal ore mining sits by projected growth

Projected employment change across tracked industries

7.9% Top 13% higher than 87% of 291 industries

Industries, banded by projected growth

Each bar is a band; taller bars hold more industries. The dashed line + filled bar mark this entry. Hover or tap any bar for its full count and share, and where it sits relative to this entry.

Source BLS Employment Projections · 2026-05-15

Expansion read

Signature: 33.5% mean employer AI exposure across 34 tracked public companies .

BLS projects above-average headcount growth here, and the SEC employer cohort for this NAICS sector is one of the denser slices we track - use the company grades below as a staffing-pattern check, not a firm-level forecast.

NAICS 212200 · 44,900 workers (2024, ×1k) · source BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034. Employer AI grades are occupation-weighted scores from our SEC cohort, not automation predictions for every establishment in Metal ore mining.

Public companies near this industry

SEC industry labels matching tokens from Metal ore mining. 34 companies scored · mean AI exposure 33.5%.

A · 34
Tracked public companies tied to this industry sector with AI risk grades
Company AI grade
Alliance Resource Partners Lp A
Almonty Industries Inc. A
Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc. A
Americas Gold & Silver Corp A
Aura Minerals Inc. A
BHP Group Ltd A
Buenaventura Mining Co Inc A
Cameco Corp A

Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure from our employer corpus - not a claim that every establishment in Metal ore mining shares the same risk. Source: SEC company metadata + O*NET-weighted scores · as of 2026-05-15.

Peer Industries by Employment

How Metal ore mining (NAICS 212200) compares to industries of similar size, ordered by 2024 BLS employment.

Peer industries by 2024 employment, with 2034 projections and growth rates
Industry 2024 Growth
Urban transit systems 48,000 +3.9%
Metal ore mining 44,900 +7.9%
Support activities for rail transportation 43,600 +0.7%
Other support activities for transportation 42,700 +3.9%
Coal mining 42,500 -45.3%
Deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation 41,500 +2.0%

Peers are selected by similarity in 2024 employment. Figures in thousands. Source: BLS Employment Projections 2024-2034.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many people work in Metal ore mining?

As of 2024, the Metal ore mining industry employs approximately 44,900 workers in the United States, according to BLS Employment Projections data.

Is Metal ore mining growing or declining?

The Metal ore mining industry is projected to grow by 7.9% from 2024 to 2034, a net change of +3,500 jobs over the decade.

Which public companies sit near Metal ore mining?

34 tracked public companies whose SEC industry label matches Metal ore mining. Sample names include Alliance Resource Partners Lp, Almonty Industries Inc., Alpha Metallurgical Resources, Inc.. Grades are occupation-weighted AI exposure scores, not company-specific automation forecasts.

How will AI affect the Metal ore mining industry?

Among 34 tracked public companies tied to this industry's sector, the mean occupation-weighted AI exposure score is 33.5% (most common grade A). That is a staffing-pattern signal from our employer corpus, not a forecast for every firm in Metal ore mining. Pair it with occupation-level AI exposure scores for role-specific risk.

What to do with this

Use Metal ore mining's employment and exposure numbers above to look up individual employers and occupations, not just the industry aggregate.

Industry-level figures are aggregates; individual employer and occupation outcomes vary.

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics Employment Projections 2024-2034; SEC employer metadata for AI grades Employment figures in thousands. Employer grades are occupation-weighted exposure scores, not firm automation forecasts