As the global population grows, so too will the demand for products and services, which means that the mining industry will need more qualified technical workers to help develop and operate global mining projects.

The Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration (SME), whose 15 000 members include mining engineers, geologists, metallurgists, educators, students and researchers serving the minerals industry in more than 100 countries, says more young people are now choosing mining as their career choice.

This is reflected in the growth in the number of student chapters and student members in the SME. Student chapters offer the first opportunity for a young person to engage in the world of mining outside the classroom.

The number of international student chapters has doubled from six in 2008 to 12 in 2013. The society also experienced a 69% increase in student membership during that time. Overall, the number of US and international SME student chapters rose from 22 to 32 and student members rose from 1 024 in 2008, to 1 727 in 2013.

“The exceptional growth in the numbers of student members can be attributed to the global demand for mining professionals,” says SME executive director David L Kanagy.

According to a 2012 report commissioned by the SME and other institutions on workforce trends in the US mining industry, mining will be one of a handful of sectors that will add jobs at a fairly constant rate (11 000 to 13 000 a year) over the next 20 years, driven by the retirement of the current workforce and projected increases in demand for resource production. These will tend to be well-paying, relatively long-term jobs.

The US mining workforce is projected to grow by about 50 000 workers by 2019, but the industry will need 78 000 additional replacement workers owing to retirement, which means there will be a total of 128 000 new positions by 2019. By 2029, more than half the current workforce will be retired and replaced, creating a skill and knowledge gap the industry may be challenged to accommodate.

The report suggests that the senior people that are exiting the industry over the next 20 years should be used to train the incoming, younger workforce.