How Arizona's Mining Industry Will Continue to Fuel the Economy

Brad Ross, interim director for the University of Arizona's School of Mining and Mineral Resources, recently spoke with AZ Big Media about how mining is not only a job creator for Arizona, but creates some of the highest-wage jobs in the state. And with technological advancements in the industry, mining is set to continue to fuel the economy. 

In 2020, the mining industry generated close to 48,000 direct and indirect jobs in Arizona. And mining jobs offer some of the highest earnings in the state, with an average wage of $81,000 per year — compared with an average wage for all workers in the United States of $59,000 per year. If you’re wondering what makes Arizona mining an economic impact gangbuster, there are several reasons. And one of the most prominent is copper.

Mineral demands are expected to grow as much as 1,000% by 2050. Much of this demand will come from automakers, which plan to spend $300 billion globally to produce new electric vehicles over the next decade.

Additionally, Ross said, “The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act makes mining even more critical to Arizona’s economy.”

In the next year, according to Ross, construction will begin on a wide variety of projects that range from roads and bridges to airports and railroads. Mining will be called upon to supply the basic materials of sand, gravel cement, and rock products to make these projects possible and bring billions of dollars into the state.

This article appears in full at: AZ Big Media