In North America the demographics of the workforce population is beginning to have a major impact on all organizations. This presentation provides a review of demographic statistics that impact the Canadian mining industry. Trends in the workforce are discussed, including delayed retirement and the shortage of qualified mid-career individuals. These are identified as critical human resources who have key skills required to complete industry projects. Methods of planning that account for critical resource constraints are presented. Resource usage across multiple projects must be considered, since the critical path of any one project cannot assume the resources are available on demand. Market competition for critical resources is discussed, versus the societal need to manage critical resources effectively and efficiently.
