Developing the Talent Pipeline
Benchmark Mineral Intelligence projects that the world will need to open more than 380 new mines for graphite, lithium, nickel and cobalt alone, in order to meet demand by the year 2035. However, without skilled talent, the industry’s ability to produce the necessary quantity of these minerals efficiently, safely, and sustainably is in jeopardy. In fact, nearly three quarters of industry executives said this talent shortage is holding them back from discovering and delivering on production targets and strategic objectives, according to a survey by global consultancy McKinsey & Company. This is largely due to an aging workforce entering retirement and a dearth of high school graduates entering the relevant post-secondary degree programs.
Even if more students were to pursue such degrees, the United States currently lacks the capacity to train them. Forty years ago, 25 American universities maintained accredited mining and mineral development programs. Today, only 14 exist. According to the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration, the number of graduates has decreased by 43 percent since 2015 alone. The number of geological engineering programs has dwindled to only 13, and metallurgical engineering stands at just 8.
