But according to the most recent national data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were far fewer coal miners in the United States in May 2015 than many other job categories. read more
Coal mining in the United States is an industry in transition. Production in 2016 was down 37% from the peak production of 1,162.7 million tons (about 1054.8 million metric tonnes) in 2006. Employment of 50,000 coal miners is down from a peak of 883,000 in 1923. read more
Wyoming (with 5,837 coal miners) produces more coal than West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Alabama, and Illinois combined (with a total of 58,995 coal miners). Due to this discrepancy, the coal mining industry has increasingly moved production to these Western states (especially to the Powder River Basin), and has dramatically cut its workforce in Appalachia. read more