Mining Recruitment and Workforce Solutions

Specialists in staffing and mobility for mining and metals

Experts in providing recruitment and workforce solutions to the mining and metals industry

The mining industry is in good health and can look forward to a positive future. That’s according to PwC’s Mine 2019 report, which looks at key data and industry trends within the sector. Despite the positives though, the mining and metals industry is facing challenges that may affect companies’ wider mining recruitment strategies.

First, the good news; 2018 saw the world’s leading mining and metals firms consolidate the stellar figures seen in 2017 with many increasing production, improving cashflow and driving down debt.

2018 mining revenue increased by 8% while production increased by 2% for most commodities. Performance highlights saw copper’s price rise by 6% and revenue by 12%; coal’s price rise by 21% and revenue by 12% and iron ore’s revenue rise by 2% while its price fell by 3%.

APAC is leading the way. According to GlobalData, as reported in Mine Australia, there are currently 483 projects in construction or slated to start by 2020 with a capex of $253 billion – the APAC region will account for the largest share of those projects at 38%. The NAMER region also continues to see investment, especially when it comes to mining for commodities such as coal and gold.

The rise in copper production though is key to highlighting the issues that the mining and metals industry faces in the immediate future.

The challenges hiring managers face in the mining and metals industry

Climate change is at the forefront of global politics, and many industries are going through radical evolutions to decarbonise as much as they can without taking steps backwards, and the mining and metals industry is no different.

Copper extraction for instance is seeing such a boost because of its value in battery making, and Mine 2019 highlights how the Top 40 companies are pushing to extract similar raw materials such as lithium. That transition to a low-carbon future is hitting mining and metal companies across the world, and they’ll need to be agile to adapt to changing needs and consumer trends.

There are other factors for the mining and metals industry to be aware of too including natural shortages of resources and the emergence of new technologies changing the sector with big data through the Internet of Things (IoT). The latter point especially can help mining companies redefine themselves and grow; where will they find the people with both mining and data experience to help them do that, though?

Mining and metals companies, to ensure they change and grow in profitable ways for the future, need agile mining recruitment strategies that take these factors into account. The global mining industry is also facing a skills shortage due to various factors though, especially in APAC with demand high in China. How do they approach mining recruitment to find the best mining talent for now, as well as cultivating skilled workers to help them navigate future growth challenges?

The benefits of working with an experienced mining recruitment partner

If you’re ramping up production or starting projects in APAC, Africa, the Middle East or elsewhere, and need to find the best in specialist mining talent, Airswift can help.

Our team of international recruitment specialists from 70 different nations are passionate about transforming the lives of workers in the extraction industries and building mining recruitment pipelines that always unearth the best talent.

Airswift has been providing the biggest energy, resources and infrastructure companies with workforce solutions for over 40 years, and we have a strong portfolio when it comes to mining recruitment..

We have an international presence and our 60 interconnected recruitment offices can be found in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the CIS region, North and Latin America, and more. They’re also complemented by super hubs in Houston, Texas, Manchester, UK, and Singapore.

Airswift is proud to have a 96% contractor satisfaction rate, and we’re always on-hand to provide the absolute best workforce solutions for your global mining and metals projects.

Looking for talented mining specialists?

Talk to Airswift about your staffing and project requirements

Providing essential recruitment and workforce solutions for the mining and metals sector

Are you a mining and metals specialist in APAC, Africa, the Middle East or North America looking to start a new project? Or are you from another territory, looking to expand globally and want your mining recruitment processes to be as streamlined and as effective as possible?

Airswift can partner with you to provide you with effective workforce and recruitment solutions including:

  • Talent Acquisition: Our passionate mining recruitment specialists will work alongside you to develop and optimise an effective talent acquisition and pipeline strategy. Services include contract hire, direct hire and engaged search.
  • Global Mobility: If you’re planning a mining project abroad and are entering new territories, we will provide agile solutions to help with global immigration, relocation services, global employment outsourcing and more.
  • Executive and Board Search: As we’ve mentioned, the mining and metals sector faces many future challenges. We’ll scour the entire value chain to find the leaders that will help you to bring fresh ideas and approaches to your company through our Ducatus Partners executive search advisory firm.
  • Consulting: Data is key to building a mining recruitment strategy that will help your company navigate the sector’s future challenges. We can provide that with consultancy, talent analytics and Total Workforce Intelligence (TWI) data services.
  • Managed Solutions: If you’re struggling to manage the complexities of a large global workforce and want to focus on your mining projects, we can take the weight from your shoulders with recruitment process outsourcing, assessment, screening, vendor management systems and more.

Our expertise is in sourcing the following mining specialists

  • Mining Open Cut, Underground, Longwall (metalliferous, coal, iron ore)
  • Mineral Processing (metalliferous, coal, iron ore)
  • Maintenance and Reliability (fixed and mobile plants)
  • Executive Positions (CEO, GM, FO, HR, BD)
  • Health and Safety
  • Consultants, Business Improvement, Analysts, Commodity Sales and Investment
  • Project Executives, Managers and Specialists (feasibility studies, operational readiness, green and brown field, delivery, commissioning)

Candidates can see a full range of our current vacancies at https://jobs.airswift.com 

Mining and metals projects Airswift has previously worked on

Anglo American

Global mining house Anglo American has considerable mining assets in Australia. In a rebuilding phase, Anglo American needed a new Head of Corporate Relations for Australia to report directly to the CEO

Airswift was commissioned thanks to our experience recruiting challenging, high-profile roles in the mining industry. A shortlist of 10 candidates was provided to the CEO within a month, and a successful appointment made within nine weeks of commencing the assignment.

Alcoa

Aloca is a global mining and metals company that Airswift has recruited for around the world. The Global Alumina business has a number of large assets in Australia and was seeking a General Manager for their largest and oldest asset. Airswift was engaged to conduct a Global Search for a very specific leadership and technical expertise set.

Airswift mapped the global talent pool that would meet the strict criteria for the role and, in consultation with Alcoa, approaching every potential candidate. During this process, Airswift had been providing advice and alternate options for Alcoa consideration. Following this detailed and extensive project Alcoa, employed an exceptional candidate identified by Airswift.

ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal has a global presence and supplies major markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging with safe, sustainable steel. In 2014, the company needed to recruit more than 100 skilled, experienced steel workers from a variety of disciplines in operations across South Africa and Europe.

Airswift was approached and commissioned to fill 40 of those positions, most of which were based in South Africa. Airswift’s mining recruitment specialists held a detailed interview process with all candidates over a four-month period, with successful applicants given the opportunity to relocate with their families and be sponsored into South Africa. Airswift successfully identified and filled all 40 positions.

Harmony Gold

Harmony Gold owns and operates the Hidden Valley mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG), and is supported by experienced mining professionals; typically expats with over a decade’s experience.

Harmony Gold needed various mining professionals to fill numerous technical roles as well as people with skills, leadership and training experience and a suitable cultural awareness in order to engage and train the existing PNG workforce.

Airswift’s mining recruitment specialists worked with Harmony Gold to find experienced technical mining professionals as well as providing our full mobilisation services including coordination of visas, interviews, travel, on-boarding and payroll. Airswift supplied over 20 contractors to Harmony Gold and the Hidden Valley mine.

Ok Tedi Mining

Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML) operates an open-pit copper, gold and silver mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG). OTML needed to appoint the crucial role of Country Head of Health and Safety for PNG in 2017. Just some of the skills needed for the role included an executive Health and Safety background, extensive international mining exposure and a minimum of 15 years’ experience.

Airswift’s teams in PNG and Australia took OTML’s requirements and delivered Talent Mapping services, providing a detailed list of local and international candidates. Our mining recruitment specialists worked closely with OTML to manage the interview process and provided Global Mobility services, Global Immigration and Relocation Services.

Vale Canada

In 2014, Vale Canada’s Long Harbour Processing Plant (LHPP) began operations and looked to employ approximately 475 people at full production.

Vale Canada commissioned Airswift to provide full Talent Acquisition services and recruitment support to find those candidates. Airswift has 12 consultants currently working on LHPP across the Project Controls, Contracts Management and Administration disciplines.