WorldWide Drilling Resource

48 JANUARY 2014 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Planning for Canada’s Mining Workforce Future Adapted from Information by the Mining Industry Human Recources Council The Canadian mining industry may soon experience a shortage in skilled workers according to the Mining Industry Human Resources (MiHR) Council’s newly-released Canadian Mining Industry Employment, Hiring Requirements and Available Talent 10-Year Outlook . The report indicates the industry will need to fill 145,000 positions by 2023. Finding knowledgeable, skilled workers to replace the experienced, retiring work- force is becoming a critical issue. Ryan Montpellier, executive director of the Mining Industry Human Resources Council said, “There are $140 billion worth of projects in the permitting and envi- ronmental assessment phase. If only a small proportion of these mines come online, it will mean a significant increase in the number of people that the mining industry will need, adding to the signif- icant gap that retiring workers will soon create.” The MiHR report encourages com- panies to hire from diverse and largely untapped groups such as women, immi- grants, and Aboriginal people. Women are largely underrepresent- ed in Canadian mining, at just 16% of the workforce. Attracting immigrant workers to the remote mining locations in Canada has been a challenge. Immigrant workers only represent 12% of the country’s mining labor force. Although the mining industry is the largest private employer of Aboriginal people in Canada making up 5% of the total workforce, the number could be a lot higher. The mining industry has the potential to be a major force in estab- lishing economic stability for Aboriginal communities. The aging workforce and their pend- ing retirement may lead to a knowledge and experience crisis. Mining employers indicate 20% of the workforce will be eli- gible to retire in the next three to five years and 6% are currently eligible for retirement. “Across the Canadian mining indus- try we are facing the challenges of ensur- ing we maintain a skilled workforce with the right capabilities. As an industry, we need to become more creative in our hiring and retention solutions,” said Ingrid Hann, VP human resources at De Beers Canada Inc. Addressing this issue is going to re- quire a long-term strategy, as well as coordination with educators, training insti- tutions, immigration services, and other sectors to grow the labor pool and attract new talent. Mentorship and development for younger workers will also be neces- sary to fill the impending knowledge gap. Formal industry and education part- nerships will play a crucial role in the opti- mization of the mining workforce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ramatic Discovery in the Sea of Galilee Adapted from Information by American Friends Tel Aviv University By drilling into the waters of the Sea of Galilee, scientists have unlocked an ancient mystery. "In a short period of time the entire world of the Bronze Age crum- bled," said Professor Israel Finkelstein of the Dr. Sonia and Marco Nadler Institute of Archaeology at Tel Aviv University. Drilling revealed a dramatic decrease in the number of Mediterranean trees in the Late Bronze Age. Experts interpret this decline as a consequence of repeated periods of drought. The droughts, intensified by cold spells, caused famine. A rainy period of recovery and reestablishment followed the period of famine and drought according to researchers. Eventually, this gave rise to the civilizations of biblical times, including ancient Israel and Judah. Read the rest online! Get the latest information with E-News Flash by WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Sign up today by calling 850-547-0102, or e-mailing: e-news@worldwidedrillingresource.com If you aren’t receiving our E-News Flash - w a h you missed this great article. Sign up today!