A survey developed by the Council of Mining Skills (CCM) together with Innovum Fundación Chile, estimates that by 2024 the Chilean mining industry will need 30,000 more workers. These are good news, particularly considering that during the past 12 months the mining industry lost around 41,000 jobs, mostly due to the fall of the price of copper.

According to the report, one of the main causes of the demand grwoth will be that lots of workers will be reaching their retirement age (18,400) in the years to come. Another relevant cause involves new mining projects to be developed, which shall create around 11,600 new jobs.

The survey is based on information provided by 14 large mining companies and 18 supplier companies. It states that during 2016 and 2017 the demand of workforce will be rather small. However, it will grow strongly in 2018, with 3,621 new workers required, while in 2012 the demand will be close to 4,730 workers.

Another key aspect the report analyses is the supply that the industry will find in the labour market. The number of graduates (around 26,000) will not be enough to satisfy the demand. Furthermore, there will be an excess of supply in certain fields, such as geology, mining or metallurgy, while other areas, particularly those linked to maintenance, will suffer a 30% to 60% deficit.

Geography also has an impact on the supply and demand gap. In other words, regions with few mining projects (such as the center region of the country and Coquimbo) have over supply. However, regions with a larger number of mining projects (Tarapacá y Antofagasta) have a supply deficit close to 70%.

This interesting survey developed by CCM brings to light the problems that the mining industry shall have in terms of workforce before it is too late. It enables social, educational and business organizations to anticipate to the supply shortage and to focus on training professionals who will be strongly required in the medium term.