New training program aims to help the Canadian mining industry diversify workforce By Alex Parsons 8 Ontario Prospector summer 2020
T
he Canadian mining industry has provided essential minerals and metals throughout the country’s history, but there is still one resource it has yet to tap to its full potential: diversity. The industry has historically had challenges attracting diverse workers and, to this day, still has room for improvement. According to the Mining Industry Human Resource Council’s (MiHR) 2020 Canadian Mining Labour Market 10-Year Outlook, women account for only 15 per cent of the workforce, youth (workers aged 15-24) at eight per cent, immigrants at 13 per cent and visible minorities at nine per cent. Mining employers will benefit from tapping into diverse talent pools to close the labour gap. In addition, an inclusive and diverse workforce ensures a pipeline of important skills and leadership talent, has been found to improve health, safety and wellness, increases innovation and productivity and enhances corporate reputation.
Intercultural Awareness Training for the Canadian Mining Industry is one of MiHR’s latest efforts to help employers attract, hire and retain an inclusive and diverse workforce. Developed in partnership with Professions North/Nord (PNN), this online training provides human resource professionals with awareness of intercultural competencies critical to our changing industry and explores tools and resources to evaluate and enhance hiring policies and practices to create an inclusive workplace. Launched April 2020, it is being offered free of charge until March 31, 2021. Use of intercultural awareness training by human resource professionals will help to more effectively diversify mining company talent pools. Modern, inclusive hiring policies and procedures are key to attracting a diverse workforce, but understanding, respecting and embracing cultural differences is key to their retention.
