Economy
Visualizing the Potential of Smart Mining
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Visualizing the Potential of Smart Mining
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Mining has traditionally been depicted with pack mules, pickaxes, and rugged prospectors.
However, it may surprise you to learn that today’s mining industry is precisely the opposite in almost every respect. It’s high-tech, efficient, and safe.
This is partially because modern mining companies are deploying the latest in sensor and cloud technology. These connected mines are improving the extraction process and workers’ safety while also boosting productivity.
Today’s infographic comes to us from Natural Resources Canada and discusses how this sensor and cloud technology can be integrated into the extractive process.
What is Smart Mining?
A connected mine uses data from sensor technology to effectively manage underground and pit mining operations.
“Any mining operation today will have in the thousands or hundreds of thousands of sensors capturing in real time a vast swath of data.”
– Mukani Moyo, McKinsey Senior Expert (Source)
From a single application on a mobile device, supervisors at mine sites can now receive alerts via SMS, email or in-app notifications. This helps them react to critical problems in real-time and maximize productivity.
In addition, advanced data analytics can be applied to the raw data to create insights, visualizations, and recommendations. This information is delivered to mine managers and employees in real-time on their mobile devices.
Case Study: Smart Solutions in Practice
Dundee Precious Metals was one of the first companies to bring wireless networks into an underground mine. The company used RFID and Wi-Fi to monitor the location of equipment and people. The networks also allowed personnel to stay connected to the surface.
Once the networks were installed, communication was reliable and instantaneous – even almost 2,000 feet underground at the bottom of the mine. Workers could bring laptops and smartphones into the mine to stay connected to personnel and software on the surface.
With an RFID chip on every vehicle, machine, and person, managers can see the location of everyone and everything in the mine. This helps prevent accidents and breakdowns, and streamlines operations in real-time.
There are also environmental and cost-saving benefits. Using location data, an automated ventilation system can respond and minimize energy consumption.
Fans turn on and off as miners enter or leave an area. In addition, fan speeds adjust when machines or vehicles are running nearby to ensure that emissions are properly vented. This could drastically reduce a mine’s energy requirements.
Changing the Nature of Work: Remote Working
These smart mining solutions are reducing the risks miners face and creating new opportunities for a tech-savvy generation.
Remote mine locations that revolve around shift work can place stress on workers and their families. With a connected infrastructure, mine employees and managers can monitor operations at a distant office.
There will always be a need for workers on site, but connected technology can create some town-based career opportunities and help stabilize families.
A Sustainable Future for Mining
This is just the beginning.
Over time, data from sensor technology and cloud software, will reveal insights that could help develop sustainable mining operations.
By minimizing their negative impacts, mining companies will be able to responsibly deliver the materials the modern world needs.
Economy
Visualizing the Most Sought-After Entry Level Jobs in 2023
Some jobs need a degree, while others don’t. Here are the top 20 most sought-after entry level jobs with and without a degree.
The Most Sought-After Entry Level Jobs of 2023
In the fast-paced realm of job hunting, staying ahead of the curve is crucial. And if you are an entry-level job applicant, the pressure is a notch higher.
New entrants in any job market today compete with groundbreaking technology like ChatGPT in addition to their peers. In the United States, these applicants have to also wade through an uncertain labor market, inflation, and long lists of job requirements.
Indeed.com has identified the most sought-after entry level positions for applicants both with and without a degree in the U.S., and the year-on-year growth of these job postings.
Most Sought-After Entry-Level Jobs With a Degree
As the U.S. job market recovers from its pandemic slump, some careers are now booming. This in turn has opened up numerous opportunities for entry-level job applicants.
| Rank | Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Change in Postings (2022‒2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Outside Sales Representative | $60,000 | +258% |
| 2 | Transportation Coordinator | $47,500 | +227% |
| 3 | Quality Auditor | $84,500 | +131% |
| 4 | Accounting | $52,000 | +125% |
| 5 | Tax Preparer | $67,500 | +123% |
| 6 | Loan Processor | $55,000 | +100% |
| 7 | Retention Specialist | $50,000 | +100% |
| 8 | Network Operations Technician | $85,500 | +94% |
| 9 | Mental Health Manager | $42,000 | +93% |
| 10 | Speech-Language Pathologist | $60,000 | +84% |
| 11 | Geotechnical Engineer | $65,000 | +80% |
| 12 | Patient Access Manager | $90,000 | +77% |
| 13 | HR Coordinator | $67,500 | +75% |
| 14 | Lead Generation Specialist | $62,500 | +73% |
| 15 | Design Coordinator | $55,000 | +73% |
| 16 | Pharmaceutical Sales Representative | $74,378 | +71% |
| 17 | Behavioral Therapist | $50,000 | +68% |
| 18 | Special Events Coordinator | $54,000 | +67% |
| 19 | IT Engineer | $92,500 | +67% |
| 20 | Structural Engineer | $90,000 | +63% |
The demand for sales jobs multiplied this year as customer-facing businesses slowly returned to their pre-pandemic levels.
At the top of this list is the job for an Outside Sales Representative. Paying upwards of $60,000, postings for this job have grown by over 250% in a year, making it the most sought-after position for applicants with a degree.
The healthcare industry has secured its place in the top ranks too. Careers including mental health case managers, speech pathologists, behavioral therapists, and patient access managers dominate the Top 20 list.
Let’s not forget about the tech sector. While entry-level network technicians can earn upwards of $85,000 on average, while IT engineers are paid an entry package of over $90,000.
Most Sought-After Entry-Level Jobs Without a Degree
Nearly 65% of the U.S. working population does not have a four-year degree. However, millions of these workers continue to be highly skilled across professions and have a shot at some of the most sought-after entry level jobs in the country.
| Rank | Job Title | Average Annual Salary | Change in Postings (2022‒2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Inventory Manager | $59,000 | +189% |
| 2 | Auto Body Technician | $82,500 | +100% |
| 3 | Environmental Health and Safety Specialist | $65,000 | +100% |
| 4 | Salon Manager | $41,000 | +95% |
| 5 | Drafting Technician | $50,000 | +94% |
| 6 | Business Analyst | $72,500 | +82% |
| 7 | Sheet Metal Mechanic | $62,140 | +67% |
| 8 | Aircraft Maintenance Technician | $57,500 | +64% |
| 9 | Catering Manager | $47,500 | +56% |
| 10 | Transportation/Logistics Coordinator | $62,500 | +53% |
| 11 | Route Sales Representative | $50,000 | +51% |
| 12 | Rental Agent | $45,520 | +50% |
| 13 | Distribution Center Coordinator | $52,500 | +47% |
| 14 | General Maintenance Technician | $40,650 | +46% |
| 15 | Patient Care Coordinator | $43,152 | +44% |
| 16 | Forestry Technician | $45,760 | +43% |
| 17 | Relationship Banker | $43,576 | +43% |
| 18 | Field Sales Representative | $57,018 | +42% |
| 19 | Park Ranger | $45,912 | +42% |
| 20 | Warehouse Receiver | $45,000 | +39% |
One example of this job is that of an Inventory Manager. The demand for skilled inventory managers in warehouses and companies post-pandemic has doubled the position’s job share in a year.
One of the highest paying non-degree jobs in this list—Auto Body Technician—can fetch highly-skilled entry-level workers a salary of $82,000 per year.
These jobs don’t seem to require a degree according to Indeed. However, the rising competition for these positions might give the upper edge to applicants with one, especially for jobs on the list such as Business Analyst and Relationship Banker.
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