The Demand for Environmental Mining Workers in Canada

By: Stephanie Warthe

July 27, 2011 - It is one of Canada’s oldest industries, and is among the top sources of employment for environmental workers. However, recent conversations about the mining industry’s labour shortage have been stirring concerns across the industry.

Mining (including oil and gas extraction) has traditionally been one of the top employers of environmental employees, employing 26% of Canada’s environmental workforce. According to the Mining Association of Canada, Alberta, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Manitoba and British Columbia governments all derive a significant portion of their revenue from the mining industry, highlighting the key economic role it plays across the country.

“The mining industry continues to grow within our economy, and we recognise the need to ensure adequate supply of environmental professionals to the sector to ensure the continued progress of the industry,” says Grant Trump, President and CEO of ECO Canada. “We profile industries like mining to identify key areas – and opportunities – for growth.” ECO Canada is an organization focused on supporting Canada’s environment industry by communicating with industry stakeholders, conducting research and creating resources to address environmental human resource needs.

Currently, 7% of the environmental workforce in the mining industry (including oil and gas extraction) is age 55 or older and will reach retirement in the next 10 years – a loss of experience that will amplify the current labour shortage. Although there is no ‘quick fix’ solution to fill the shortage, both employers and academia are working to tackle the issue through internships, accreditation and training programs.

“We know that these labour and experience gaps exist, and that’s why ECO Canada provides resources to help attract, engage and retain environmental workers,” says Trump. “We work both with employers and professionals in order to bridge that gap, and to help build a lasting workforce.”

Training is a crucial strategy to ensure that employees have the right skill set to meet industry needs, particularly for younger workers who may lack the experience of their older counterparts. Fortunately, the mining industry is well-positioned to meet the need for employee training: according to a report from ECO Canada, entitled Profile of Canadian Environmental Employment, employers in mining (including oil and gas extraction) are the most likely to have larger budgets for training, with 45% of employers having budgets of $2,000 or more.

Additionally, mining students and new graduates will have a wide range of opportunities available to them as they enter the workforce, as 42% of employers have said they are currently hiring. This means that geologists, environmental workers, mining engineers and workers with chemical or electrical expertise should have numerous job opportunities opening throughout the industry.

Although the labour shortage is a serious concern, and not unique to the mining sector, there are steps that can be taken by both environmental employers and workers that will help ensure that the mining industry will continue to be an important piece of the Canadian economy.