Key Findings from LMI Research

Preliminary Findings

Equipment Operator in front of Mountains

  • The mining industry will need approximately 100,000 new workers by 2020 (assuming a baseline forecasting scenario).
  • Over 60,000 people employed in the mining sector are expected to retire by 2020.
    The occupations facing the most significant hiring needs are heavy equipment operators, underground and surface miners, and skilled trades and professional occupations (e.g., geoscientists and engineers    ).
  • Women make up 14.4 % of the mining workforce, an increase of 40% in 5 years
  • The mining industry is the largest private sector employer of Aboriginal peoples; 6.75% of the workforce self identify as Aboriginal.
  • Employment levels are expected to shrink in most regions, except in the Prairies and Territories regions where employment growth is expected over the 10 year forecast period.
  • Despite shrinking employment, national hiring requirements average approximately 10,000 each year in the forecast period (assuming a baseline scenario). This is mainly due to age of the workforce and the need to replace retiring workers.
  • The largest hiring requirements in Canada are expected in the Prairies at over 52,000 by 2020 (assuming the baseline forecasting scenario).
  • Average overall turnover for employers is approximately 5.6%. Turnover is highest in trades and undesignated occupations and most employers reported that voluntary turnover in this occupational group has impeded productivity to a great extent over the past 2 years.
  • Average total compensation in mining is $40.92 per hour, ranging from $49.25 per hour in the Territories to $32.21 per hour in the Atlantic region.

 Download the full report.