Findings

Congress finds the United States mining industry and, more broadly, mining and mineral processing and refining, is widely reported as facing a significant personnel shortage. This shortage is driven by an aging workforce, declining numbers of graduates entering mining careers, and difficulty recruiting and retaining skilled workers. Fifty percent of the current mining workforce is expected to retire within the next 5 years. In 2023, only 14 United States universities and colleges had mining and mining engineer programs. Downstream segments, such as ore processing, refining, and metallurgy, are affected by the same workforce trends. Institutions and personnel from allied countries with mining expertise can share their knowledge and experience with the United States workforce through education exchange programs.