Let’s face it – we’re in a weird time for jobs. Tech is booming, robots are taking over, and everyone’s talking about AI this and ChatGPT that. But what about the OG industries? You know, the ones that make actual stuff you can touch?

Let me break down whether basic industries – think manufacturing, mining, agriculture, energy production – are still worth pursuing as a career. Spoiler alert: they might be more future-proof than you think.

What the heck are “basic industries” anyway?

Basic industries are the backbone sectors that produce raw materials and essential goods needed for, well, pretty much everything else to function. Without them, our economy would collapse faster than my motivation to go to the gym in winter.

We’re talking about:

• Steel production (those skyscrapers don’t build themselves)
• Chemical manufacturing (from medicines to materials)
• Mining (digging up stuff we need)
• Agriculture (you know, food and all that)
• Energy extraction (keeping the lights on)

These industries offer diverse careers from hands-on trades to engineering roles to management positions. And no, not everyone wears a hard hat and gets dirty (though some of the best-paying jobs do involve some grit).

The upside: Why basic industries might be your jam

Stability that tech bros would envy

While tech startups come and go faster than TikTok trends, basic industries tend to stick around. According to job market projections, sectors like construction, food processing, and energy will maintain steady demand through 2030. Construction and extraction occupations are projected to grow 4% from 2021 to 2031, creating about 470,000 new jobs.

Why? Because people will always need:

• Food
• Shelter
• Energy
• Materials to make stuff

Try outsourcing those to AI. Not happening anytime soon.

Money talks (and basic industries aren’t whispering)

Many roles in basic industries offer surprisingly competitive salaries. A petroleum engineer with a bachelor’s degree can make $130,000+ annually. Even skilled trades like electricians and plumbers often earn more than many office workers without the student loan debt.

I have a friend who started as a welder’s apprentice. Five years later, he’s making six figures working in specialized manufacturing. Meanwhile, some of my college classmates are still trying to “find themselves” in entry-level marketing roles.

Hands-on work that robots can’t steal (yet)

While AI might take over report writing and data analysis, it’s having a much harder time with physical, skilled work. Jobs requiring spatial awareness, adaptability to changing conditions, and specialized manual skills are less likely to be fully automated.

Plus, there’s something satisfying about actually making tangible things. At the end of the day, you can point to something and say “I helped build that” instead of “I optimized that spreadsheet.”

The downside: Challenges you should know about

The robot revolution is coming for some jobs

Let’s not sugarcoat it: automation is transforming basic industries. Manufacturing has already seen this with assembly lines becoming increasingly automated. Jobs involving repetitive, predictable tasks are most vulnerable.

But here’s the twist – automation often creates new, different jobs. The factory worker of 2030 might be the person managing the robots rather than doing the physical labor themselves. This shift requires different skills but doesn’t mean job elimination across the board.

Environmental regulations are changing the game

Many traditional basic industries face increasing pressure to go green. Coal mining, for example, has seen significant decline as renewable energy grows.

But this creates opportunities too! The fastest-growing energy jobs are now in solar and wind. These sectors grew 5 times faster than the overall economy in recent years. So while some old-school jobs disappear, new ones emerge.

Economic cycles hit harder

When the economy tanks, basic industries can get hit harder than service sectors. Construction slows during recessions. Manufacturing orders drop. Energy consumption decreases.

This means job security can fluctuate more than in some other fields. But remember – these industries have weathered countless economic cycles and still remain essential.

The future outlook: Better than you might think

The World Economic Forum projects significant job creation in frontline roles related to construction and food processing alongside technology-driven positions. And that’s not just wishful thinking – it’s economics.

As supply chains become more regionalized post-pandemic, there’s renewed interest in domestic manufacturing and production. The push for infrastructure rebuilding creates construction and materials jobs. And the green energy transition is creating whole new industrial sectors.

To thrive in basic industries, you should:

• Embrace tech changes instead of fighting them. The workers who learn to operate new equipment and systems will always have jobs.
• Look for green opportunities within traditional sectors. Environmental compliance, sustainability initiatives, and resource efficiency are growth areas.
• Develop transferable skills like project management, safety procedures, and quality control that apply across multiple industries.

So is it worth it? My take

Basic industries won’t offer the flashy perks of a Silicon Valley tech job. You probably won’t have ping pong tables at work or free kombucha on tap.

But they provide something increasingly rare: concrete skills that create tangible value, decent pay without requiring graduate degrees, and work that can’t be easily outsourced or replaced by AI.

Like any career path, success depends on your specific interests, aptitudes, and willingness to adapt. The electrician who keeps learning about smart home systems will thrive; the one who refuses to touch anything made after 1980 will struggle.

While your college career counselor might be pushing everyone toward computer science, don’t sleep on basic industries. After all, someone needs to build and maintain the physical infrastructure that makes our digital lives possible – and that someone could be earning a very comfortable living.

The world needs builders, growers, and makers just as much as it needs coders. Maybe even more.