As mining has matured and become more technologically advanced, the need for workers with specialized skills and post-secondary education (PSE) has become increasingly important. A robust pipeline of qualified workers is essential to support expansion, avoid ongoing labour shortages and ensure the sector’s sustainability and competitiveness. Yet, Canada’s mining talent pipeline is shrinking. There’s been a significant decline in mining-related PSE enrolment, and mining continues to struggle to attract and retain youth and equity deserving groups.
In a session held at CIM CONNECT 2024, a working group of professionals proposed forming a pan-Canadian coalition that would deliver a sectoral approach to solving mining’s people crisis. Taking action is essential, as a sustained, unified voice is required to reach the next generation of potential mining workers. Industry, education and government collaboration and partnerships can address mining’s continued struggle to attract youth and diversify its labour pool. Such a coalition could inspire key audiences to consider mining careers and to enrol in mining-related post-secondary education for industry to take advantage of a more robust and skilled supply of labour. Collaborative solutions to labour market challenges can grow Canada’s mining industry as it contributes to the nation’s clean energy transition.
In response to this idea, the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR), the national organization that leads collaboration to understand labour market trends, identify opportunities and develop solutions, is working to establish such a coalition. So far, MiHR has extensively analyzed labour market tightness and youth mining perceptions, and held multiple meetings with industry associations, companies, educational institutions and government departments—with all stakeholders in agreement that a coalition that creates sectoral collaboration and partnerships is needed to solve this challenge—to develop a framework for this group. MiHR then submitted coalition funding proposals to several associations, governments and educational institutions. A proposal to industry will be presented in the fall.
MiHR proposed a coalition that will further operationalize its national “We Need Mining, Mining Needs You” career awareness initiative. Mining Needs You shows youth the need for mining; what modern mining looks like; its use of innovative technologies; and industry commitment to environmental sustainability and equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). It includes numerous initiatives such as a career ambassador program, a scholarship program and educational curriculum for grades 7 to 10 educators.
While Mining Needs You has been successful, the goal of a coalition is to bring together industry, education and government nationally to fund a five-year, $5 million campaign and commit to participating in delivering Mining Needs You through a sectoral approach to create the needed change to solve mining’s people crisis.
The work done so far to establish a pan-Canadian coalition points to a mainly industry-funded collaboration. If establishing a coalition is successful, an initial five-year project management plan will be developed to deliver sustained traditional, digital and industry-specific tactics to showcase the industry as being progressive as well as to educate key audiences on its vast array of traditional and non-traditional opportunities and the connection between mining and critical minerals.
MiHR’s careers committee, made up of industry, education and a youth representative, will provide strategic input, project oversight and guidance to the campaign. The careers committee will report to MiHR’s board of directors.
Coalition partners will also be asked to provide in-kind contributions, including staff time to review and promote materials; senior leaders delivering messaging to key audiences; and activities like offering site visits to students and participation in Mining Needs You’s career ambassador program. Creating a coalition will support individual partner brands and initiatives, and nationally and cohesively address negative perceptions, the lack of awareness and mining’s benefits and career opportunities—as jurisdictional and organization-specific career awareness initiatives do not uniformly address these issues on a national scale.
Now is the time to take advantage of this opportunity to expand awareness of mining, its importance and its careers—and for industry, academia and governments to collaborate and create the change needed to solve mining’s people crisis. To find out how to become a partner in the pan-Canadian coalition, contact me at wmeyer@mihr.ca.
Will Meyer is the director of communications and career development at MiHR.
