U.S. critical minerals workforce needed

Alongside critical minerals demand, there's another shortage in the U.S. that has the mining industry just as worried – fresh faces in the labor pool.

The global economy is in the midst of a mineral-intensive green energy transition that involves more electric vehicles powered by better batteries, and 2030 is the first self-imposed deadline in many countries for phasing out internal combustion engines. At the start of the new decade, more than half the current mining industry workforce will also be retiring.

Andrea Brickey is a professor in the Department of Mining Engineering and Management at South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and she's on a mission to inspire the next generation of modern miners – especially women.

"There are a lot of great women in the mining industry, but we need more. With the demand for minerals, workforce development is going to be a big thing for the mining industry. So, we are trying to show young people all of the opportunities that are available," she said, aiming to launch a Black Hills chapter of Women in Mining to help encourage more women to enter the field.

"It's not mining like it was 120 years ago; mining is so multidisciplinary, from engineers of all types to computer scientists to mechanics. We have to be on the forefront of innovation. We are often the first to implement new technologies in robotics, machine learning, autonomous vehicles and more - all of these different emerging technologies to make our operations more efficient, safer and more environmentally friendly," she said.

Professor Brickey's journey

Brickey's own journey to becoming a leading academic voice in the industry began following her graduation in mining engineering from South Dakota Mines. Her work took her to the western U.S., Canada, Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa and more, serving as drill and blast engineer, safety trainer, and budget manager.

She received her Ph.D. in 2015 and was recently promoted to full professor at her alma mater, where she returned to teach. This year she received the 2023 Mining and Exploration Division Distinguished Service Award from the Society for Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration.

Her current research centers on mathematical solutions to underground mining environment safety and operations efficiency. She's also focused on generating and distributing renewable energy on reclaimed lands by repurposing existing mines' electrical infrastructure.

Amid her academic endeavors, Brickey is also seeking out the next generation of mining professionals sorely needed during the energy transition.

"Mining is a big part of what powers our country and our economy, and any transition to renewable energy will rely heavily on critical minerals needed for modern technology," the South Dakota Mines professor said. "Alongside this increasing demand for raw materials, we have a dramatic need for people in the mining industry, it's estimated that between now and 2030 we will lose about half of our workforce."

Bright young people needed

Mining has been one of a handful of industries that have added well-paying, relatively long-term jobs at a constant rate of 11,000 to 13,000 per year, which is expected to continue over the next 20 years driven by retirement of the current workforce and increased demand for resource production.

However, prior to the electric vehicle boom, federal funding of studies and research in mining was drastically reduced along with the dissolution of the former Federal Bureau of Mines, which removed all funding for mining schools under the Mining and Mineral Resource Institutes Act of 1984.

While there has been a noticeable increase in the number of graduates from mining and mineral engineering programs since 2004, the number of mine engineering programs at U.S. colleges and universities has declined.

The industry has gone through a paradigm shift, with a new infusion of modernization and technological transformations, as well as increased safety and efficiency in all areas. Private and government funding of the energy transition is making its way through the mining sector and will hopefully continue filtering down to where it all begins, in the classroom.

"We have some challenges, and we need bright young people who are tech-savvy and who have a desire to really make an impact," said Brickey.

More than anything, Brickey is excited to show prospective students that there are huge opportunities for professional advancement and growth, and to make a difference in the world. The university's upcoming Nucor Mineral Industries Building is set to open next year on campus, further supporting South Dakota Mines as one of the nation's leading engineering, science, and technology universities.

South Dakota Mines is also touted as one of the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment, enrolling 2,493 students with an average class size of 24, a graduate placement rate of 97 percent, and an average starting salary of $68,685.

"We're so excited! Not only will it help us educate our students with the modern equipment and technology that is changing the industry, but it will help demonstrate the importance of the mineral industries," Brickey said. "It's the foundation of our society, helping provide the raw materials we need to do all the things we want to do."