Qualified workers needed

One factor pushing metal prices higher is a shortage of qualified workers in the mining industry as a whole, and the U.S. in particular.

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that mining industry expansion is being slowed by “a lack of qualified workers, in part because of the specialized skills required for some mining jobs and in part due to tight labour markets in which workers have other options. The problem is exacerbating a long-term challenge for mines: attracting younger workers into entering a sometimes dangerous profession, often located in rural or remote areas, that is vulnerable to economic cycles.”

The International Council on Mining and Metals says that last year 578 students were enrolled in mining-specific disciplines at U.S. universities. At the recent Utah Mining Association annual meeting, Kim McKarter, chairman of the University of Utah’s mining department, said the U.S. needs to triple its production of mining engineers just to replace those who will be retiring over the next 10 years. Meanwhile, 10 American mining engineering departments have closed since 1985 and the 15 remaining schools are going to extremes to keep their programs alive.

According to McKarter, the number of mining engineers graduating from U.S. universities peaked in 1980 at about 700 graduates. Today, about 100 mining engineers graduate annually from U.S. universities.

Dave Kanagy, executive director of the Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, echoes the words of McKarter, saying that the U.S. mining industry needs about 300 mining engineering graduates a year for the next 10 years, just to fill the ranks of those who will be retiring. Statistics show that it takes about 550 students entering a program to produce 300 graduates.

Mike Nelson, associate professor of mining engineering at the University of Utah, says that mining engineers graduating with a bachelor’s degree can expect a starting salary of US$50,000 to US$60,000. Nelson said that Utah had five graduates in mining engineering last year and each received four or five job offers.

— The preceding is an edited version of a report that appeared in the Aug./Sept. issue of the Northwest Mining Association Bulletin.