Skilled workers are in short supply, now more than ever. Across industries, workers are retiring faster than they can be replaced. And with increased career options, including an abundance of technology jobs, it can be challenging to attract new workers into the mining industry.

As with any job, offering competitive salaries and benefits is paramount. With historic inflation and increased expenses, people need jobs that help them keep up. Beyond these important factors, there are other ways to obtain and retain the right workers for your mining business.

Attracting New Talent:

1. Collaborate with schools: Whenever possible, focus your hiring efforts on people who have already chosen a career in mining. Schools like Colorado School of Mines and South Dakota School of Mines and Technology are a good place to start. And many universities have vibrant mining departments, including Virginia Tech, Penn State, and the University of Arizona. Reach out to their career centers and department heads to inquire about a partnership and participate in their career fairs whenever possible.
2. Show off your tech: Many young people are excited by jobs that allow them to learn and use new technologies. Whether it's robotics, graphics and visualization software, or any other type of mining tech, highlight it to potential hires to catch their eye.
3. Digitize your business: Mining workers are very familiar with digital technologies, and this is especially true for younger generations. Get insights from Mobil℠ Lubricant Analysis (MLA), an extensive used-oil analysis that gives you actionable data and reliable predictive information to inform your maintenance activities. Discover insights here.

Retaining Top Talent:

1. Recognize a job well done: Your employees work hard, both mentally and physically. It's important to show them you appreciate it. It can be as simple as a note from a supervisor with a gift card for coffee or as formal as a regular recognition program. If you have a company newsletter, that's a great place to feature employee achievements as well.
2. Prioritize safety: When working physically demanding jobs, employees need to feel safe, especially when heavy machinery is involved. Regularly conduct safety inspections and trainings to address any issues early. And make sure to create and adhere to an equipment maintenance plan to keep your machinery in peak working condition. One of the easiest ways to keep your equipment running smoothly, efficiently, and safely, is designing a lubrication program that fits the conditions in which you operate.
3. Encourage work/life balance: Especially when facing a labor shortage, current employees can start to feel overworked and burnt out, but there are steps you can take to combat this. First, post schedules early. This will allow your employees to better plan their lives outside of work. Second, streamline your operation to maximize output while minimizing employee level of effort. A solid maintenance plan and lubrication strategy can help here by reducing the time employees need to spend dealing with breakdowns. This will help maximize your workforce, allowing more employees to take time off when needed. It can also save your operation money by increasing fuel efficiency and uptime.
4. Offer trainings and career advancement opportunities: Fulfilled employees are happy employees. Make sure to offer trainings and mentorship opportunities that allow your workers to learn new things, challenge themselves, and advance in their careers.

These are just some of the ways you can attract skilled workers and keep them for the long haul. And if you want to learn more about the services and technologies we offer that can help, reach out to our Mobil^™ mining experts.