How to attract talent to the mining industry
The mining industry is struggling to attract young talent, with people placing more importance on a company's values and ESG considerations when deciding where to work. It can be a tough sell for mining companies.
To stand a chance of reaching top talent, these companies need to shift their focus and place talent at the top of their agenda. So, how can mining companies turn around negative perceptions and bring in the best talent?
Where's the value?
Traditionally, mining companies have focused on commodity price, ore quality, and location as the main drivers of profitability. However, the shortage of skilled and experienced talent in the industry has highlighted the crucial role that people play in driving profitable projects and operations.
Without a talented and experienced workforce, none of the other things matter. Companies need to put people at the top of their agenda and align their hiring strategies to attract and retain top talent.
However, it's easier said than done. In fact, 86% of mining executives say that it's now harder to recruit and retain the talent they need than it was two years ago. To add to that, mining graduations in the United States have dropped by 39% since 2016. So it looks like things are only going to get more challenging.
Pay attention to the EVP
To attract the talent that is in the market, mining companies need something that appeals. But how do you bring that to life? First and foremost, don't leave talent attraction solely to the HR department. It needs to become a broader company focus that can tap into a range of experience.
Define your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) clearly to showcase what you offer. It's essential to think beyond the financials – workers care about progression opportunities, upskilling, culture, and flexibility too.
Make sure your EVP is aligned with the realities of your company culture, so they are truly present in the organization – if they are not then you could quickly end up re-hiring. It’s also important to test how they stack up against your competitors. This will help inform your talent strategy, which should be a continuous strategic focus.
Focus on what matters
Many people have a fixed idea of what mining is like. However, modern mining is increasingly about automation, data, and efficiencies. It's as much suited to the computer whizz as the manual worker at the coalface. The mining industry is poised to play an exciting role in a number of growing technology markets, including electric vehicles.
Mining companies need to promote their good work across ESG areas and make sure people are aware of some of the positive stories they are part of. These things are important to people in considering where to work and could help attract those who are experiencing layoffs in other industries.
Plan ahead with ONEMSP
Putting all these things in place requires time and strategic support within the organization. Mining companies should not leave it to the last minute. By working with ONEMSP, companies can align their project milestones with a tailor-made strategic staffing solution to attract and retain their contingent workers.
TRS works with companies to develop and execute attraction and retention strategies to ensure they retain knowledge and key contingent workers through to project completion. By investing in a longer-term view, companies can retain skills and find efficiencies in their approach to workforce management.
Interested in how ONEMSP can help you attract talent? Talk to our team today to find out more.