How many jobs are available in basic industries

Basic industries, also known as primary industries, refer to sectors that extract, process, or produce raw materials, such as agriculture, mining, forestry, and manufacturing. The number of jobs available in basic industries can vary depending on the specific industry, location, and economic conditions. Here are some approximate numbers of jobs available in various basic industries:

  1. Agriculture:
    • Farmers and ranchers: 2.6 million (USDA, 2020)
    • Agricultural workers (including farmworkers, laborers, and harvesters): 2.3 million (BLS, 2020)
    • Total agricultural employment: 4.9 million (USDA, 2020)
  2. Mining:
    • Mining and quarrying workers: 630,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Oil and gas extraction workers: 220,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Total mining employment: 850,000 (BLS, 2020)
  3. Forestry:
    • Forestry and logging workers: 120,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Wood processing and manufacturing workers: 140,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Total forestry employment: 260,000 (BLS, 2020)
  4. Manufacturing:
    • Total manufacturing employment: 12.8 million (BLS, 2020)
    • Food manufacturing workers: 1.5 million (BLS, 2020)
    • Chemical manufacturing workers: 840,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Steel manufacturing workers: 140,000 (BLS, 2020)
    • Total manufacturing jobs in basic industries: 4.5 million (BLS, 2020)
  5. Construction:
    • Construction workers (including building, heavy, and highway construction): 7.2 million (BLS, 2020)
    • Total construction employment: 7.2 million (BLS, 2020)

Note that these numbers are approximate and may vary depending on the source and methodology used. Additionally, these figures do not include jobs in related industries, such as transportation, logistics, and services, which are also important components of the basic industries sector.

In summary, there are approximately:

Totaling around 17.5 million jobs in basic industries.