3a. Careers in the Lignite Industry
A recent review of North Dakota Lignite Industry jobs broke careers into 3 main segments.
Distribution & Transmission
Generation
Mining & Reclamation
Lignite Careers by Industry Segment
- Mining & Reclamation 47.2%
- Generation 27.3%
- Distribution & Transmission 25.5%
Career Categories
The study also broke careers into 9 categories. Tap or click the accordions to learn more about the career categories.
Administrative Support
Administrative support positions typically include secretarial and bookkeeping services, file clerks, payroll, and other office support jobs.
Craft Workers
Craft workers generally have a specific skill set learned through specialized training. Jobs examples are carpenters, plumbers, mechanics, journeyman tradespersons, and electricians.
Executives & Senior Managers
These positions would be reserved for the highest positions of authority within a firm. Examples would include CFOs, CEOs, executive vice presidents, and presidents.
First & Mid-Level Managers
These management positions include division managers, regional directors, and vice presidents.
Laborers & Helpers
These positions generally do not require specialized training or other distinguishing qualifications and include assistants, attendants, couriers, and general labor.
Operatives
Operative positions require less formal training than found in Craft Worker categories. Job examples include equipment operators, truck drivers, specialized material handling, and welding.
Professionals
Professional positions generally require 4 or more years of college education. Examples of professionals in the lignite industry include engineers, computer technicians, accountants, attorneys, doctors, nurses, and teachers.
Service Workers
Service worker positions represent jobs such as personal health, bartenders, chefs, custodians, law enforcement, and security officers.
Technicians
Technician positions generally require specialized training, which is often learned through an associate’s degrees program. Job examples include chemical technicians, drafters, and engineering technicians.
Job Categories by Industry Segment
The majority of lignite careers fall into four career categories: craft workers, professionals, first & mid-level managers and operatives. The chart below illustrates the breakdown by industry category. In the next lessons, you’ll learn more about specific jobs within each career category.
