The Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration’s (SME) executive director, David L. Kanagy, will be the featured speaker at the Colorado Mining Association/Mining & Metallurgical Society of America breakfast on April 16, 2014, in Denver, CO.

Kanagy will speak about Workforce Trends in the U.S. Mining Industry. His presentation will take place during the Colorado Mining Association’s (CMA) 116th National Western Mining Conference & Exhibition, to be held April 15-17 at the Colorado Convention Center.

It is unlikely that there will be sufficient skilled mine labor to satisfy the demand over the next 20 years. For a period of time, the U.S. will have a workforce composed of very young and very senior workers, with implications that could impact productivity and safety. Finding and retaining skilled labor is likely to be a problem for miners and to some degree this may force many companies to initiate process improvements and new automation solutions to address these challenges. Workforce availability has become a significant problem for the domestic mining industries. 

Stuart Sanderson, CMA President, said, “We are pleased to have Dave Kanagy represent SME at our event. It is critical that the mining industry have a better understanding of the pressure points with regards to future workforce needed to meet the growing global demand for minerals. Without an adequate flow of qualified graduates from U.S. universities, the nation is at a distinct competitive disadvantage in the workforce needed for the production of basic raw materials and energy.”

The breakfast, hosted jointly by the CMA and the Mining & Metallurgical Society of America, will take place at 7:30 am on Wednesday, April 16, during the 116th National Western Mining Conference & Exhibition at the Colorado Convention Center, April 15-17. Up to 1,000 are expected to attend. Go to www.coloradomining.org to register. Advance registration expires April 4; on site rates apply thereafter.