The mining industry in 2025 is in a talent race.
With the global mining sector facing skills shortages, ESG compliance, and rapid digital transformation, finding and keeping top talent isn't just about filling a role - it's about building a resilient workforce that drives long-term success.
From executive search for Senior Mining Engineers to staffing for underground mining operations in remote locations, the rules of recruitment have changed.
This guide lays out 7 effective steps to attract, hire, and retain the right people, backed by real data, industry insight, and practical tools like Vouch.
Step 1. Build Your Mining Employer Brand with Vouch
A strong employer brand is now the top driver of talent acquisition in mining.
According to LinkedIn's 2023 Employer Branding Report, companies with a strong employer brand see a 50% reduction in cost per hire and hire two times faster.
In the mining industry, where skilled Project Management experts, geological exploration teams, and technical experts are in high demand, your brand needs to stand out in a competitive global market.
Vouch's employer branding solution lets you:
- Capture authentic employee stories on video
- Showcase your ESG policy and safety culture
- Highlight unique career growth opportunities
- Give job seekers a clear picture of life on-site and in the community
Why employer branding works in mining: Candidates often need to relocate, work in challenging environments, or commit to international projects. Seeing real employees talk about their experiences builds trust and reduces candidate drop-off rates.
Step 2. Use Video in Your Mining Job Descriptions
Text-only job postings are losing their edge.
Recruitment studies have found that job postings with video get 12% more views and 34% more applications.
Vouch's dynamic video job page feature allows recruiters in the mineral processing, mining technology, or sustainable mining practices sectors to embed short, engaging videos directly into job listings.
Your videos could include:
- Day-in-the-life clips from open-pit mining and underground mining operations
- Quick safety briefings to address safety challenges upfront
- Testimonials from Mine General Managers or Geology Managers about your team culture
This makes your listing more human, helps address concerns about remote locations, and speeds up decision-making for top candidates.
The AI-enabled workspace for talent teams.
- Unified workspace for talent teams
- Accelerate hiring with AI tools
- Auto-generate polished hiring and employer brand content
- Easily repurpose assets across all channel
Step 3. Grow Your Employee Advocacy Program
In 2025, employee advocacy isn't just for tech companies; it's a major recruitment driver in the resource industry.
According to the Edelman Trust Barometer, employees are three times more trusted than CEOs when talking about what it's like to work somewhere.
Vouch's employee advocacy platform makes it easy for your team to share:
- Videos about mining operations and your work culture
- Updates on digital transformation projects, like AI-driven equipment or autonomous mining trials
- Community engagement stories aligned with your Human Rights Policy and environmental regulations
Step 4. Go Beyond Compensation – Showcase Your Mining EVPs
Pay is important, but Employee Value Propositions (EVPs) go further.
Research from Gartner shows that organizations that effectively deliver on their EVPs can decrease annual employee turnover by nearly 70%.
Your EVP should include:
- Career growth in training, mineral exploration, tailings standards review, or reclamation & remediation
- Lifestyle perks like fly-in/fly-out schedules, housing allowances and more
- Your commitment to sustainable mining practices and ESG policy
- Advanced safety measures in underground mining and open-pit mining
Vouch's EVP storytelling guide helps you package these benefits into compelling video content, perfect for attracting junior and mid-cap mining companies' talent and executive search candidates alike.
Step 5. Streamline Your Mining Hiring Process
A slow recruitment process in mining is costly, both in production delays and in losing top talent to faster competitors.
Key steps to streamline:
- Automated candidate screening tools
- Pre-scheduling interviews
- Partnering with background check companies such as First Advantage or HireRight
- Using Vouch's video platform for quick candidate introductions
For African mining operations or international projects, speed matters - especially when recruiting for critical materials engineers or underground heavy-duty mechanics in battery materials supply chains.
Step 6. Focus on Retention From Day One
Retention starts with onboarding, and a Glassdoor study found that strong onboarding can improve retention by 82%.
Tools like Vouch's internal communication platform support:
- New hire introductions across sites and offices
- Sharing regulatory compliance updates and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics guidelines
- Providing ongoing training for Health & Safety, environmental regulations, and technology/automation / IT tools
In the mining industry, where logistics and transport challenges can isolate workers, strong communication is a retention lifeline.
Step 7. Partner with Specialized Mining Staffing Agencies If Needed
When timelines are tight or roles are highly specialized, partnering with recruitment specialists can be a game-changer.
Expert staffing agencies include:
- CA Mining – Africa-focused mining recruitment consultants
- Mining Recruitment Group – Executive search practices for the global mining sector
- Blue Signal Search – Talent acquisition for mining technology and project management
- Africa Mining Job Portal – Jobs in African mining operations and international projects
- The President's Club Fund – Supports leadership-level hiring in the mining, minerals & metals sector
These agencies bring sector expertise, search transparency, and global mobility services to fill urgent needs.
Who Are The Top 10 Mining Companies Globally?
- BHP – bhp.com – 80,000+ employees, $53B revenue, diversified mining & metals.
- Rio Tinto – riotinto.com – 49,000 employees, $55.6B revenue, leader in sustainable mining practices.
- Vale Canada – vale.com – 68,000 employees, $42B revenue, battery metals and iron ore.
- Barrick Gold Corporation – barrick.com – 18,000 employees, $11B revenue, major gold & copper producer.
- Glencore – glencore.com – 135,000 employees, $256B revenue, diversified commodities.
- Anglo American – angloamerican.com – 63,000 employees, $35B revenue, strong ESG policy focus.
- China Shenhua Energy – shenhuachina.com – 89,000 employees, $37B revenue, coal & power generation.
- Freeport-McMoRan – fcx.com – 24,000 employees, $22B revenue, copper & gold.
- Newmont Corporation – newmont.com – 14,600 employees, $12B revenue, gold mining leader.
- Nevada Gold Mines – nevadagoldmines.com – Joint venture between Barrick & Newmont, largest gold mining complex in the world.
FAQs
What's the biggest hiring challenge in mining?
Finding skilled technical workers in remote locations.
Why is employer branding so important?
Your employer branding attracts better candidates and reduces hiring costs.
How does video help recruitment?
It humanizes your brand and increases application rates.
What are EVPs in mining recruitment?
They're the non-salary benefits and values you offer employees.
Are specialized staffing agencies worth it?
Yes, especially for urgent or niche roles.
How does onboarding affect retention?
Good onboarding can improve retention by over 80%.
What's driving mining recruitment changes in 2025?
Technology, ESG regulations, and global talent shortages.
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