Training and Skills Recognition of Current Employment

The Canadian mining industry needs 30,000 new workers in the next five years

The Industry is Changing

Employed workers need to be prepared as the industry continues to change: to build on their transferable skills – work, cultural, and life-related; and to learn new skills.

How are skills learned and recognized?

Online and in-classroom learning

Micro-credentials

New tech like augmented reality

Prior learning assessment recognition (PLAR)

Experiential learning and transferable skills

Mentorship and coaching

Assessment of on-the-job learning

Shifts in mine training open new ways for learners to get the skills needed

Employers and training organizations can create new and innovative training pathways together

It is beneficial to move away from a one size fits all training approach

Innovations in Training

New ways of learning like virtual reality, equipment simulators, online and hands-on learning, or a mix of all of these provide many ways for participants to gain the skills needed in mining.

New Workers Can Benefit From:

  • Support and mentorship from Elders to provide a safe space when learning
  • Clear pathways that show employees how to move forward in their careers
  • Mentoring from seasoned workers to provide on-the-job skills
  • Intercultural, conflict resolution, human rights and anti-racsim training

PLAR

Prior Learning Assessment Recognition (PLAR) can help identify transferable skills of workers. Assessment can:

  • Speed up the process of recruitment and training of new candidates
  • Help people who were not aware of job opportunities in the sector
  • Confirm skills and remove barriers

Skills Needed for BC Mining Careers

A mix of skillsets is needed for jobs now and in the future

Working in BC’s modern mining industry will require continuous learning to stay current as the needs of the industry change

Skills for Today

With over 120 careers in mining, the list of skills is different based on the job. Skills that workers could have to prepare for the future include:

  • Work readiness or essential skills (e.g., reading, writing, working with others
  • Computer and software
  • Cultural agility and leadership
  • Critical thinking and analysis
  • Hand-eye coordination
  • Problem solving
  • Self management (e.g., active learning, resilience, stress tolerance and flexibility)
  • Systems analysis
  • Effective communications
  • Programming and coding
  • Data mining, data analytics, statistics, data interpretation

Skills for the Future

Additional transferable skills for the future include:

  • Precision machining
  • Mechatronics and mobile robotics
  • Cultural awareness and competence, human rights and anti-racism, reconciliation
  • Judgement and decision-making
  • Electronics and maintenance
  • STEM basic skills (e.g., digital literacy)

CTEM Resources

There are many resources to explore to better understand the industry and the jobs that keep it operating safely.

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