Cameron Crowley begins his underground shifts in southern Illinois each afternoon, operating a mining car that transports coal cut by fellow miners to a conveyor belt. His workday typically runs from 3 p.m. until around 2 a.m. Crowley, 24, is part of a dwindling industry in Illinois, where coal mining has declined sharply from more than 1,350 active mines a century ago to fewer than 20 today.

Crowley, who once worked on a pipeline in Arkansas, describes his current job as both his favorite and the most physically demanding he has held. He routinely puts in 70-hour workweeks and hopes to continue mining until at least age 63. According to him, the mine where he works has around 20 years of operation remaining.

Living in the unincorporated rural community of Crab Orchard, Crowley faces economic challenges despite relatively stable employment. He owns a 1995 Chevy pickup with over 200,000 miles on it and has struggled to cover even basic repairs, including a recently cracked vehicle window that he could not afford to fix immediately. Rising prices for gasoline, groceries, housing, and vehicles have made it difficult for him to save or improve his living situation.

Crowley did not complete high school, dropping out in the 10th grade with the expectation that he would enter manual labor fields permanently. His speech carries a tired drawl that reflects the physical toll of his work. While his job offers more income than many peers his age earn, he remains skeptical about broader economic opportunities in the area.

The local mining workforce no longer benefits from union representation, and Crowley perceives limited government support for his community. He and his coworkers attribute many of their difficulties, including inflation and high living costs, to the policies of Illinois’ Democratic leadership. According to Crowley, the region often feels neglected despite its relatively high cost of living.

As coal mining continues to contract in Illinois, workers like Crowley navigate the physical demands of the job alongside economic pressures and uncertain futures in a long-shrinking industry.