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Mining faces acute talent shortage as youth shun careers
A 2024 MiHR survey found 70% of people ages 15 to 30 would not consider mining, and executives say the gap is already starting to affect production and delay projects.
As gold prices rise and more mining projects win incentives and approvals, the industry is running into a growing workforce problem, according to Mining.com. A Canadian Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) survey from 2024 found that 70% of people ages 15 to 30 would not consider a career in mining, citing concerns about safety, lack of flexibility, and environmental issues.
The talent shortage is becoming operational, with many mining executives saying it is starting to affect production levels and innovation, while delaying projects. Rob McEwen, chairman and chief owner of McEwen Inc., said the shortage is driven by retirements and fewer new entrants into the industry.
The demographic strain is visible in both Canada and the United States. Mining.com reports that more than half of the US workforce is expected to retire in the next three years, while in Canada, 20% of workers are 55 years old or older, and just 5% are under 25.
Younger workers are also not sticking around, with Deloitte data cited by Mining.com showing 46% of Gen-Z workers plan to quit mining and energy-related jobs within two years. MiHR says enrollments in Canadian mining programs have fallen for 14 straight years, dropping from 1,400 in 2014 to 800 in 2020, with a 10% annual decrease in enrollments from 2016 to 2020.
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