Industry Profile: Mining

a very large dumptruck specifically used for mining driving along a quarry

This guide will help you find the information you need to start working in British Columbia. You can use the menu buttons to move between sections of the guide.

Overview of the Mining Industry

Introduction

British Columbia has one of the largest mining sectors in Canada with more than 1,200 mineral exploration and mining companies. The industry employs more than 10,000 people in BC.

Employment in mining is very sensitive to economic cycles. There is employment growth during boom times and employment reductions during recessions. The economic outlook for the Canadian mining industry appears to be improving after a period of significant slowdown. Across Canada the industry is expected to hire approximately 97,450 workers from 2019 to 2029.

Forecasted hiring gaps in the mining industry by broad occupational category, 2019-2029

a chart showing the hiring gaps in the mining industry by broad occupational category

Over the longer term, BC’s mining industry anticipates a shortage of skilled workers. The industry may need to hire more than 10,000 workers over the next 10 years in order to replace a large number of workers who are retiring or leaving the industry for other reasons.

In order to fill these positions, the mining industry is trying to attract and recruit women and men from every national and cultural background. The industry has responded by developing a number of programs to recruit newcomers to Canada.

These include:

initiatives to attract newcomers to remote locations of the province
corporate efforts to encourage diversity in the workplace
strategies for streamlining foreign-credential recognition

SkilledTradesBC provides support for experienced tradespersons to get certified in B.C., including study and exam resources.

The Mining Industry Human Resources Council (MiHR) created a guide specifically for newcomers to Canada. The guide provides you with advice including: