We Need Mining. Mining Needs You. MiHR launches National Youth Mining Career Awareness Strategy and Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Ottawa, ON, May 19, 2021

Following a two-year study on the context, challenges and solutions for attracting youth to the mining industry, the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) is pleased to announce the release of Canada’s National Youth Mining Career Awareness Strategy 2021-2026: Transformation, Innovation and Diversity.

“In support of the Government of Canada’s Canadian Minerals and Metals Plan (CMMP), the national strategy aims to attract and develop highly qualified personnel to the mining industry,” said MiHR’s Executive Director Ryan Montpellier. “The percentage of youth participation in the mining industry is low compared to their overall presence in the Canadian labour force. Significant effort is required to raise awareness of mining careers amongst youth to secure the labour supply required to meet industry demand given forecasted labour shortages.”

Launched today during an interactive webinar with Ryan Montpellier, with presentations by Ottawa-based polling and market research firm Abacus Data, Leslie Woolcott, MiHR’s Director of Inclusion and Career Development and William Meyer, MiHR’s Director of Marketing and Communications, the Strategy will provide engagement with youth and stakeholders, change perceptions of the industry, and produce high-quality research, resulting in program development.

Also launched was a mining career awareness campaign and several useful tools to help youth in Canada see mining as an innovative, challenging and rewarding career choice. Tied together by the overarching theme We need mining. Mining needs you., a new career website showcases what modern mining looks like and includes job profiles, a pathway tool to search entry positions as well as explore where these careers may lead, and a short quiz to learn more about the history and necessity of mining. A corresponding social media campaign is underway using #MiningNeedsYou.

“Through implementation of the new National Strategy, youth in Canada will be more aware that mining is essential to our way of life today and to the world we want to create tomorrow,” said Montpellier. “By choosing a career in mining, youth can help Canada become the world’s leading mining nation – setting a global example for environmental sustainability, social responsibility and technological innovation.”  

Click here for the National Youth Mining Career Awareness Strategy 2021-2026. The new mining career website can be found at MiningNeedsYou.ca.

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About the Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR)

MiHR is Canada’s knowledge centre for mining labour market information. An independent, non-profit organization, MiHR leads collaboration among mining and exploration companies, organized labour, contractors, educational institutions, industry associations and Indigenous groups to identify opportunities and address the human resource and labour market challenges facing the Canadian minerals and metals sector.

For more information, please contact:

William Meyer
Director, Marketing and Communications
The Mining Industry Human Resources Council
613.270.9696 x 58
wmeyer@mihr.ca

Photo courtesy of Vale.