There is a real race against time in Quebec to fill 14,000 paid jobs in the mining sector by 2028. “We have to eat crusts. We have work to do. It will depend on the shops opening.”
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The coordinator of the National Mining Center of the Val-D’Or Vocational Training Center, Martin Richard, is realistic when we talk to him about the latest estimate of labor needs in the mining sector in Quebec.
“I train between 450 and 500 students each year across my four mining programs,” he adds. This is not sufficient for market demand. However, automation of the systems must be expected in the coming years. These are becoming increasingly common at the various mining sites.”
Martin Richard estimates that there will still be a lot to do in the area of training to fill the 14,000 available positions by 2028. Martin Richard – CFP of Val-D’Or
According to the survey conducted by the Mining Industry Sectoral Labor Committee (CSMO) and the National Institute of Mines of Quebec (INMQ), a total of 14,358 jobs are being filled in Quebec, including several with salaries of around $90,000 per year. According to Richard, the training of future miners must be done through partnerships with companies.
“The more influence we have on mining among our apprentices, the more we can train,” emphasizes the coordinator.
1000 positions to be filled
At Agnico Eagle, a company specializing in the mining, processing and production of gold, around 1,000 positions need to be filled over the next three years.
“We have demographic problems in Abitibi. The workforce is aging, says Nicolas Bolduc, regional human resources manager. We have needs like everyone else in the industry. The entire sector is fighting for workers.”
Nicolas Bolduc, regional human resources manager at Agnico Eagle
At the Canadian company, we attach particular importance to recruiting women in order to compensate for the numerous departures.
“The mining industry is becoming increasingly automated and robotized,” adds Mr. Bolduc. It’s not like it used to be with the physical work at the bottom of the mine. There is now a lot of work that is done in control rooms or on the surface.
In addition to expanding its pool of First Nations workers, Agnico Eagle is looking to attract workers from mines that have closed their doors in recent months. For example, the Stornaway company, which laid off 425 workers last October.
He also wants to develop programs for new immigrants who arrive in Quebec while “staying” in schools in the region to rely on local workers. This is the reality that awaits most mining companies, which must be creative in hiring the employees necessary for their production.
High placement rate
The placement rate in mining career programs is over 90%. Some students do not enter the job market at the end of their training.
“Young people sometimes do a second DEP. They may be interested in another sector such as diamond mining or drilling, explains Martin Richard. With additional training, they can earn money.”
There is also the reality of “fly-in-fly-out” which is still very present in practice. Of the 450 students at Val-D’Or CFP, more than 75% come from outside the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region.
“These students take more time to figure out what they want to do. It allows them to stay at home. Depending on the company, you fly to work for a period of 14 or 21 days. There is no uprooting of the family.”
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