Mining

The growing automation and digitization of mining operations are expected to affect the size and skill set of the mining workforce. This trend is not confined to developed countries. For example, Randgold Resources invested more than $2.7 billion in the underground operation’s automated material handling system of its Kibali gold mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to make it one of Africa’s most automated gold mines. ^[1]

The promotion of gender-inclusive recruitment policies is part of a global approach being taken by companies in all sectors; this is boosting female employment in mining operations. For example, in 2016, BHP announced a commitment to increase the share of women in its workforce to 50 percent by 2025.^[2] While this trend is to some extent the result of social pressure on mining companies, it also reflects gender-targeted policies based on observed performance differences between genders in certain tasks. For example, women tend to be more responsible and careful drivers, and are therefore increasingly employed to operate large equipment.

In the future, women’s share of total mining employment may also be boosted by increasing automation and the reduced relevance of physical strength for most jobs. Further details on this trend are provided in “Ramp-UP: A Study on the Status of Women in Canada’s Mining and Exploration Sector” (page 11) found in the Key Resources.