Northwest Mining Association sees students as mining’s future

E&E News reported on Jan. 20 that the Northwest Mining Association (NWMA) recently launched a campaign aimed at promoting the mining sector to college students.

“The More You Dig: It All Starts With Mining” initiative explains how mining provides raw materials essential to smartphones, laptops and other high-tech devices that improve students’ lives.

The campaign is also making visits to campuses near major mining areas, touting surging job opportunities in the field.

As older workers retire over the next five to 10 years, an estimated 55,000 new workers (including coal miners) will be needed. Overall, employment in mining and mining-related industries is expected to increase 10 percent between 2008 and 2018—a number that could escalate if balanced policies are enacted to encourage the development of domestic minerals.

Given this high demand for qualified workers, an NWMA spokesperson was surprised to find that “most students have never thought about joining the mining industry.”

NMA applauds NWMA’s efforts to engage students and educate them on the vast opportunities available in the mining sector.