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Employment |
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The Kentucky coal mining industry has a current work force of approximately 17,959* people directly employed in coal mining jobs. The Western Kentucky coal field directly employs approximately 2,949 persons, while the Eastern Kentucky coal field provides 15,010 direct mining jobs. Eastern Kentucky averaged just over 84% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for about 78% of Kentucky’s total coal production in 2006. Western Kentucky averaged approximately 16% of Kentucky’s coal mining work force and accounted for about 22% of Kentucky’s total coal production in 2006. Kentucky produced 120.8 million tons during 2006 while direct mining employment continued to increase over the past two years. |
Kentucky Coal Mining Employment, 1979-2006 |
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Western Kentucky |
Eastern Kentucky |
Kentucky |
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Year |
Surface |
Underground |
Total |
Surface |
Underground |
Total |
Totals |
|
1979 |
4,343 |
6,945 |
11,288 |
12,838 |
23,064 |
35,902 |
47,190 |
|
1980 |
3,995 |
7,879 |
11,874 |
11.819 |
22,702 |
34,521 |
46,395 |
|
1981 |
4,056 |
6,489 |
10,545 |
13,473 |
24,032 |
37,505 |
48,050 |
|
1982 |
4,120 |
5,639 |
9,759 |
12,319 |
22,782 |
35,101 |
44,860 |
|
1983 |
3,415 |
4,918 |
8,333 |
10,485 |
17,615 |
28,100 |
36,433 |
|
1984 |
4,022 |
4,053 |
8,075 |
11,327 |
18,474 |
29,801 |
37,876 |
|
1985 |
3,421 |
4,294 |
7,715 |
10,516 |
18,583 |
29,099 |
36,814 |
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1986 |
2,327 |
4,297 |
6,624 |
8,718 |
17,312 |
26,030 |
32,654 |
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1987 |
2,345 |
4,605 |
6,950 |
8,740 |
16,900 |
25,640 |
32,590 |
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1988 |
1,825 |
4,388 |
6,213 |
8,261 |
16,085 |
24,346 |
30,599 |
|
1989 |
1,870 |
4,166 |
6,036 |
8,034 |
16,586 |
24,620 |
30,656 |
|
1990 |
2,095 |
3,491 |
5,586 |
7,505 |
17,407 |
24,912 |
30,498 |
|
1991 |
1,910 |
3,603 |
5,513 |
6,251 |
14,878 |
21,129 |
26,642 |
|
1992 |
1,722 |
3,483 |
5,205 |
6,014 |
13,405 |
19,419 |
24,624 |
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1993 |
1,887 |
3,465 |
5,352 |
5,683 |
13,028 |
18,711 |
24,063 |
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1994 |
1,803 |
2,988 |
4,791 |
5,728 |
12,849 |
18,577 |
23,368 |
|
1995 |
1,109 |
3,176 |
4,285 |
5,474 |
11,366 |
16,840 |
21,125 |
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1996 |
1,095 |
2,601 |
3,696 |
4,855 |
10,275 |
15,130 |
18,826 |
| 1997 | 937 | 2,578 | 3,515 | 5,053 | 10,369 | 15,422 | 18,937 |
| 1998 | 747 | 2,763 | 3,510 | 5,493 | 9,924 | 15,417 | 18,927 |
| 1999 | 615 | 2,309 | 2,924 | 4,973 | 9,314 | 14,287 | 17,211 |
| 2000 | 450 | 2,060 | 2,510 | 4,162 | 8,828 | 12,990 | 15,500 |
| 2001 | 558 | 1,864 | 2,422 | 5,197 | 9,915 | 15,112 | 17,534 |
| 2002 | 495 | 2,029 | 2,524 | 5,237 | 9,281 | 14,518 | 17,042 |
| 2003 | 443 | 1,773 | 2,216 | 4,896 | 8,143 | 13,039 | 15,255 |
| 2004 | 370 | 1,880 | 2,250 | 4,901 | 8,371 | 13,272 | 15,522 |
| 2005 | 446 | 2.254 | 2,700 | 5,407 | 8,883 | 14,290 | 16,990 |
| 2006 | 350 | 2,599 | 2,949 | 5,707 | 9,303 | 15,010 | 17,959 |
*NOTE: State employment numbers (Coal County Employment and Wages) differ from federal EIA numbers.
Source: U.S. DOE - EIA; Coal Industry Annual, 1993-2006, Coal Production, 1979-1992.