Is Basic Industries a Good Career Path?
Get Ahead by LinkedIn News
We talk about leveling up, about geting ahead in your career and about excelling where you are right now.
Basic industries are some of the most critical sectors in our society. These are industries that refine and process materials for further use. From cosmetics to electricity to furniture to roadways, basic industries are responsible for most of our everyday items. Choosing a career path in these fields is a good decision for many workers.
There are many open positions available to people interested in joining the basic industries today, which means working in a growing economy and having job security. But these career paths aren’t the best options for all workers. Many of the roles in basic industries are intensive and require specialized training, which means professionals need dedication to the field to succeed.
Learning about the various basic industries and the type of work available will help professionals decide if this career path is right for them.?
What Are Basic Industries?
Basic industries provide materials to other industries that manufacture products. As part of this process, basic industries often explore, develop and process raw materials before sending them to other industrial facilities for further use.?
People interested in working in basic industries must know that these industries require a lot of technical work. Additionally, due to the threats that some basic industries pose to the environment, workers must take many safety precautions to avoid harm. Basic industry work can be a rewarding career path for those with the right temperament and skill.?
Benefits of Working in Basic Industries
Many career opportunities in basic industries offer considerable advantages that are difficult to find in other lines of work. Some of the benefits of working in basic industries include:
Challenges of Working in Basic Industries
Working in a basic industry means joining some of the world's most profitable types of work, but that doesn’t come without some drawbacks. A few of the challenges to consider before working in basic industries include:
Types of Basic Industries
Before deciding if basic industry work is the best career path, professionals must understand what industries fall into this category. The primary basic industries include:
Each of these basic industries is unique and offers a variety of career opportunities that may be difficult to find in other fields.?
Agriculture
This is an essential basic industry, as agriculture provides many raw materials humans need. Additionally, the agriculture industry drives a region's food supply and imports or exports. In almost all countries, agriculture is a dominant industry that directly correlates with the economy.?
Examples of career paths in agriculture include:
Steel or Metals
In the 19th century, technological advances started to boost steel as a necessary, dominant industry. Now, people rely on steel to build many important parts of our world, such as bridges, cars and buildings. Steel is a critical basic industry that allows us to improve and update our infrastructures, which boosts progress worldwide.
Examples of career paths in this industry include:
Oil, Gas and Mining?
The oil and gas industry is significant and largely relies on exporting and importing worldwide. The following three segments make up the industry:
领英推荐
Mining is the extraction of raw materials, such as coal or iron, for other industries to use. Professionals in this basic industry use different methods to mine for various naturally-occurring materials. These raw materials may be deep in the ground or on the surface.
Some examples of career paths within the oil, gas and mining industry are:
Chemical
The chemical industry transforms raw materials into chemical or gas solutions for other sectors’ use. Chemical companies may classify chemicals in specific categories for easier classification. Most items made with a manufacturing process rely on chemicals, meaning the chemicals market has high revenue.?
Examples of career paths in the chemical industry include:
Textile
The textile industry designs, produces and distributes various materials, such as clothing, paper, yarn and fabric. Raw materials used in this industry may be natural from the agriculture industry or synthetic from the chemical industry.?
Examples of career paths in the textile industry include:
Utilities
The utility industry is well-known because many people rely daily on these services. These companies provide the amenities people use for power, such as natural gas, electricity and water. Utility companies use many products from other industries, such as the chemical industry.
Examples of career paths in the utility industry include:
Pulp and Paper
This basic industry relies on wood and recycled fibers as raw materials. After harvesting, forest products go through a manufacturing process involving water and chemicals to create more refined wood or paper products. Companies may sell these products at this stage or further refine them to create furniture, structures or specific paper products.
Examples of career paths in this sector include:
Final Thoughts on Choosing Career Paths in Basic Industries
Basic industries provide reliable, high-paying opportunities to qualified workers. However, they are extremely hands-on and production-oriented, so there are few opportunities for those who prefer to work in an office setting.?
Even so, there is a diverse range of career opportunities within these industries, from creative and sales to labor and research. Selecting the right career path in basic industries will require research into open job opportunities and their requirements. Additionally, considering current skill sets, knowledge, and career goals will help professionals find the best career path in these sectors.
Top Takeaways
Is basic industries a good career path?
(Reporting by NPD)