In March of 2023, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced S.912, the Mining Schools Act of 2023, with Senate Energy and Natural Resources ENR Committee chairman Joe Manchin (I-WV). Over a year later on July 10, the bill now makes its way to the House of Representatives after passing through the Senate.

To those in and outside of the mining industry, the act’s move from the Senate to the House could be a beacon of hope. With workforce numbers slowly declining despite the growing demand for minerals, a shift in industry approach seems crucial.

The act aims to boost mining school’s ability to train and recruit individuals, as well as support studies, research projects, and demonstration projects to shape the nation’s future generation of mining experts. To do so, it will establish a grant program for mining schools at four-year public institutions of higher education, authorizing $10 million for each fiscal year from 2024-2031. In addition, it will institute the Mining Professional Development Advisory Board to evaluate applications, recommend recipients to the Secretary of Energy, and conduct oversight to ensure grant funds are appropriately used.

Universities with mining-centric programs have been struggling in recent years to attract enough young, bright minds to meet the growing demand for qualified industry workers. Without substantial assistance from the government, universities must determine ways to increase interest and enrollment all on their own.

“The passage of the Mining Schools Act will enhance our recruiting efforts as it provides a specific point of reference to students and their parents, explaining why entering our programs is important to our country,” said Michael Moats, professor of metallurgical engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology.

With the massive push for renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, the need for certain minerals grows increasingly pressing. In order to meet the current rate of mineral use, the U.S. must devise methods to revitalize the mining workforce, and that starts at the educational level.
“Our university's mission is to provide research on technology and the development of students that will further our industry,” said Steven Schafrik, associate professor of mining engineering at the University of Kentucky, regarding the possible passage of the act. “We would use this funding to develop next generation technology, increase our industry engagement, and increase our recruitment so that the next generation of mining engineers will be able to operate the mines of the future.”

The industry work force has been diminishing, with the Center for Strategic & International Studies reporting that roughly 221,000 mining workers, more than half of the current domestic workforce, will retire and need to be replaced by 2029.

“When parents and students decide on their majors, they consider what their careers will look like. If this bill becomes law, it signals that the United States considers the mining and minerals industries vital to the country's success,” said Schafrik.

Encouragement to join the industry appears to be a foothold that legislators and mining professionals are grasping to regain. Though crucial to the nation, societal awareness of the dwindling mining workforce is not reflected in industry numbers. However, if passed, this notion could change.

To find out more, read the full story in the September issue of Mining Engineering. This month’s issue also features interviews of students and staff from three of the top mining engineering schools in the U.S.: Michigan Technological University, Missouri University of Science and Technology, and Montana Technological University.