Abstract
Over the past 10 years, the global mining industry has continued to build momentum and prepare itself for what appears to be a remarkable transformation. Executives are facing unprecedented pressure to find sustainable and creative methods to drive shareholder value, enhance productivity, and improve the safety of the workforce – all during a time of global uncertainty and a generation of new workers that are motivated by non-traditional incentives.
Complicating these challenges relates to the various labour market studies that not only forecast a significant labour market shortage in many mining jurisdictions around the world, but also cites the skills and competencies required in the workforce are dramatically changing as the industry continues to adopt and deploy new technologies and mechanized equipment.
What is important to note, is the problem is two-fold. The labour market shortage combined with the new technology skillset workers need to have has created a “perfect storm” whereby mining and mining supply companies are experiencing difficulties in finding, hiring, and retaining workers with the right skills to fill the significant and growing employment gaps.
Using the Canadian mining industry as an example, this presentation will shed light on emerging attraction and retention strategies that leading mining companies and other skilled labour / legacy industries facing similar challenges have successfully deployed that can be leveraged by other mining companies. Included in this presentation will be a discussion on the development and deployment of blended learning programs that integrate experiential learning technologies, including virtual and augmented reality (VR / AR) and simulation training that collectively represent the future of training and engaged learning in skilled labour industries around the world.
Our work with leading mining companies has demonstrated that, when integrated correctly, these technologies create an immersive learning experience that not only drives meaningful learning outcomes and enhanced knowledge retention, but also is fast becoming the “new world of training and development” to support the “new world of work” in the mining industry.
In addition, this presentation will talk about building trust, developing more talent locally, and strategies to encourage students to move towards meaningful and sustainable careers in the “new world” mining industry.