Tag: Mining

Workforce Wednesday: Miner Training


People looking for a career in mining and wanting to get hands on training can now get their hands dirty and learn employability skills. The Mining and Petroleum Training Service, which is a part of the University of Alaska, has a training facility 30 miles outside of Delta Junction. According to Bill Bieber, who’s with MAPTS, it’s a world-class facility.

“We have the underground facility with the under ground equipment that is also used in mines like Green’s Creek and POGO,” he said. Bieber added there are also two state-of-the-art simulators for students to use. One is for surface equipment, the other is for underground. What really makes the facility unique is that the training center is underground, and students have two weeks on and two weeks off. That makes the place “camp style”, in that respect, so that when people transition they can balance life skills with the work they do. In addition, it’s also so that they’re ready to get a job as soon as they graduate.

“We have over 90 percent placement in companies all over the state,” Bieber mentioned. He went on to say that it’s a great opportunity and that people who go through it do very well in the industry.

For more information, visit the Alaska Process Industry Process Careers Consortium website.

Watch the full video segment here.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Miner Training | KTVA 11

Workforce Wednesday: Millwrights


Millwrights are precision industrial mechanics that work on compressors, turbines and other heavy equipment. This field includes high paying jobs servicing equipment that keeps Alaska’s major industries, like fishing and mining, afloat.

Interested? The only place in Alaska to get trained is at Prince William Sound College in Valdez. The nationally accredited program is comprised of five modules as well as an internship and occupation endorsement certificate, according to faculty member Sharry Miller. She said people could further their education to advance into supervisory and managerial jobs. Millwright training also translates to other types of heavy industrial work, like power plant operators for instance.

People looking into this career can expect a salary from $70,000-$120,000 a year. Pogo Mine and Petro Star are currently hiring for these positions.

For more information, visit Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium website.

Watch the Workforce Wednesday video segment here.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Millwrights | KTVA 11

Workforce Wednesday: Careers in Mining


One of the consistently highest paying careers in Alaska is the mining industry. Currently, there are six active mines producing gold, silver, zinc, lead and coal. According to the Alaska Department of Labor, an average salary is in the six figure range. Meg Day, a resource manager for Donlin Gold, said there’s currently 8,700 direct and indirect jobs in the industry.

“Mining has a wide range of long-term, year-round employment opportunities,” Day explained. She added that mines are located in the interior or southeast parts of Alaska. There are more than 100 different job titles that are lumped in to four “clusters,” Day said.

One of those clusters would be heavy equipment operators, surface and underground maintenance technicians, mechanics and electricians. Another is what’s called process technology, including mill operators, mining and metallurgical engineers as well as lab technicians.

But what is it like in a modern day mine? According to Josh Murrell, who works with Pogo Mine, long days starting at 4 a.m. with breakfast. Then they “digger out,” where miners put on their work clothes. After that they get their task for the day, a brief safety meeting, a heads up on what’s going on in the industry, then they head out to the workplace underground. Once there, Murrell said there’s a thorough workplace and equipment inspection.

“And then we start our daily task, which could be hauling ore, breaking more rock,” he added.

Then there’s the work schedules. According to Day, miners work long hours with a lot of consecutive days in a row. To off-set that, miners get long breaks, or rotations.

Anyone interested in looking for a career in mining should know five of the six mining operations in the state all have openings. For more information, visit the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium website.

Update: Red Dog Mining is also hiring, but was left off the chart during broadcast.

To watch the video, click here.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Careers in mining | KTVA 11

Workforce Wednesday: Apprenticeships in Alaska

Did you know there are over 300 apprenticeship programs right here in Alaska? If you’re looking to earn while you learn, an apprenticeship could be right up your alley.

You’ll need to know exactly which career or industry you want to work in. There are careers in mining, gas, oil, healthcare and more.

“You just don’t just show up on the doorstep of apprenticeship unprepared,” said Gerry Andrews, who works with the Department of Labor.

It’s a good idea to start preparing as soon you can. The starting pay isn’t bad, either — around $15 and hour in most industries.

If you’re interested, you can head over the Alaska Process Industry Careers Consortium website, or to the Department of Labor website.

Source: Workforce Wednesday: Apprenticeships in Alaska – KTVA 11

UAA Community and Technical College Highlights Programs and Students in Video

The University of Alaska Anchorage Community & Technical College (CTC) offers career and technical education programs that are closely aligned with Alaska’s core industries. CTC faculty work with industry professionals to develop relevant, hands-on training for students. Our graduates earn good wages in high-demand fields that allow them to support themselves, their families and contribute to the state’s economy.

Industries We Serve

  • Automotive
  • Aviation
  • Construction and Design
  • Culinary, Hospitality and Tourism
  • Information Technology
  • Occupational Safety and Health
  • Oil and Gas

The college delivers innovative instructional services that support student success. Through continuing education, CTC engages the community and provides opportunities for personal enrichment and professional growth.

Source: UAA Community and Technical College