America is running out of miners. More than half of the country’s mining workforce – about 221,000 workers – is expected to retire by 2029, according to the Association of Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration, while the number of candidates willing to fill these positions is shrinking.
“Our workforce is aging,” Rio Tinto Copper Chief Executive Bold Baatar said. “There are a lot of baby boomers who will be looking to retire or have already retired, and we will continue to rely on their expertise.”
At the same time, demand is rising for rare earth minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper, which are key components used in making batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones.
Data from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence shows that by 2035, at least 384 new mines will need to be built around the world to meet the demand for electric vehicles.
To better understand the role miners play in the transition to green energy, CNBC took a behind-the-scenes look at Rio Tinto’s copper mining operations in Utah.
Watch the video to learn more.
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