Exploring the youth talent gap in mining: Personal reflections on a global challenge
By Will Wardle (Senior Programme Officer – Environment, Data & Research, ICMM).
The pace and scale of demand for materials in an electrifying and developing world requires an unprecedented growth in mining activities. Yet, despite this expansion, youth engagement with the industry appears to be worryingly low[1], raising concerns about being able to find the talent the industry so desperately needs. Reflecting on my own journey into mining, discussions at ICMM’s recent Responsible Mining Leadership Forum (RMLF), and broader industry themes, this blog represents my reflections on this talent gap[2].
Sitting at the RMLF, and after three years at ICMM, I’m still struck by my unexpected path into mining. Having studied social sciences, with a focus on global environmental challenges and human development, I never envisaged working in an industry often still associated with its infamous 3D slogan: Dark, Dirty, and Dangerous. A simple internet search for ‘sustainability’ jobs – and three years with ICMM – has led me to a very different understanding.
Despite initial reservations, I found alignment with many of my aspirations: contributing to global goals, engaging with people, acting to counter global challenges, travelling, and pursuing opportunity. My placement year at ICMM and my current work on global biodiversity, climate, and circularity challenges reinforced that mining could not only compliment these aspirations, but also offered the very topics that demanded fresh eyes, perspectives, and enthusiasm. This is an industry that offers purpose, is people focused, and respects potential - that is also struggling with tension. These tensions may at first seem uncomfortable, yet they are also the key things that attract me to the industry. Without engaging in difficult conversations about responsible mining, society will be unable to meet global development goals sustainably. This challenge, and the fantastic people working on it, continue to inspire me.
During ICMM’s recent RMLF, my reflections on my journey and thoughts on youth engagement were again brought into focus through around the question ‘Is there truly a talent crisis in mining?’ This panel moved from global to local perspectives, with participants offering varying views on the state of the talent crisis, and its origins. Three points stood out for me.
1. Perceptions and the talent gap are deeply contextual.
Perceptions on mining vary from continent, country, region, and individual experience. For me, researching mining as a student, my perceptions were shaped by stories of industrial decline in the North-East of England and an industry that offshored many decades ago. In contrast, for a young person in Peru, Chile, or Argentina, mining may represent economic development, social mobility, and opportunity. Addressing the talent gap requires an acknowledgement of how geography, alongside factors such as gender, race, and class, shape engagement with the industry.
2. Mining is evolving - and so should our assumptions.
Our perceptions are often shaped by mining of the past. The energy transition, technological advances, and cultural changes are transforming the industry and its role in society. As mining’s purpose and values change, so too must our assumptions. The question in our minds needs to not be focused on what mining looks like today, but how young people can help shape it into one that serves broader society and the planet.
The industry is also in need of new skills and perspectives, with this demand offering new career opportunities and routes into mining. Engineering and traditional roles remain vital in this industry, but now so does sustainability, community development, computing, and communications amongst others. Mining is changing and the more inclusive it is of varied skills and backgrounds, the more effective it will be in supporting the energy transition.
3. Communication is critical.
No matter how much the mining industry evolves, unless young people can see opportunities, growth, and purpose the talent gap will remain. The variety of the work I’m currently involved in, and the opportunities it brings, would have surprised my younger self and is rarely known by the next generation of talent. The industry must actively tackle this communication issue, and work to demonstrate to younger people its potential contribution to people, planet, and prosperity. How mining tells its story is vital for attracting talent, diversity, and the purpose-driven individuals needed to support society’s energy transition.
My own perceptions of mining are inevitably shaped by bias, individual positionality, and other sub-conscious influences. However, across the broader RMLF it was clear that there are several key actions that the industry must address to overcome the talent gap:
- Listen: The industry must continue to listen to the needs, demands, and hopes of all stakeholders including youth.
- Take leadership on DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are expected as a bare minimum for any young person wishing to work in an environment that lets them bring their best self to work.
- Invest in future talent: Investing in youth today, can help address challenges of the future. The time to consider this challenge is now.
One RMLF speaker noted that, in the context of the energy transition, the mining industry can be part of the problem or part of the solution. The same is true for the talent gap. To meet this challenge, the mining industry must evolve, communicate its purpose, listen to young voices, and invest in the next generation. Only then can it truly become part of the solution.
Notes
[1] A recent global survey by McKinsey notes that around 70% of respondents ‘definitely wouldn’t’ or ‘probably wouldn’t’ consider working in this mining industry. Source: Has mining lost its luster? Why talent is moving elsewhere and how to bring them back, McKinsey and Company (2023)
[2] Throughout this blog, the talent gap is noted as a ‘supposed’ talent gap as this gap is not universal and varies according to geography and other factors.
