Abstract
Currently in the Canadian mining industry, the Mining Industry Human Resource Council (2018) reports 16% of roles are filled by women and is projecting a future labour shortage as its current workforce is approaching the age of retirement. There has also been a recent shift within mining companies to reflect the diverse communities in which they operate (Peltier-Huntley, 2019). Underrepresented groups, such as women, can help to fill these projected labour gaps and aid in solving challenges the industry faces, such as digital transformation and innovation. Inclusive and diverse workplaces have been found to be more profitable, more innovative, and better places to work. However, systemic and culture barriers have prevented women, in particular, from being better represented in the mining industry.
The mining industry and key professions necessary for mining, such as engineering, are struggling to effectively engage and retain under-represented groups, such as women and Indigenous peoples, within its workplaces. There is a growing need for education, policy, and actions which shift current workplace cultures and the entrenched systems supporting them, to welcome diversity through inclusive and equitable environments.
In response, this study will bring together industry and academic research focus which transform the experiences of men and women in the Saskatchewan mining industry into practical solutions which address barriers faced by under-represented groups. The ultimate goal of this work is put recommendations into action to shift Saskatchewan mining and minerals workplaces to be inclusive and diverse workplaces. This presentation will give an overview of the multi-phase study.