The Russian mining industry is faced with an acute shortage of qualified specialists. At the MINEX Russia 2025 forum, representatives of universities and mining companies discussed effective ways to overcome the personnel shortage and train new specialists for the industry.
According to the recruiting agency VIPP, the total number of employees of Russian mining enterprises is about 600 thousand people. By 2035, the industry will require an additional 280 thousand workers, taking into account new projects and natural attrition. At the same time educational institutions Only 63 thousand graduates will be able to prepare, which creates an irreplaceable need for 217 thousand specialists.
The problem is especially acute in the Far East, where about 200 subsoil users and 500 related companies operate. Currently, there are about 9 thousand vacancies open here, and another 37 thousand employees will be needed to implement new projects. At the same time, local universities train only 3.3 thousand students in specialized specialties.
Analysts identify four main reasons for the personnel crisis: an unfavorable demographic situation, a discrepancy between education and practical requirements, difficult working conditions and insufficient adaptation of employees to new technologies.
To solve these problems, systemic measures are needed. The Leaders of Mining Education consortium, uniting the country’s leading universities, develops common educational programs and creates network laboratories. Universities actively cooperate with mining companies, introducing modern formats for personnel training.
Pacific State University is implementing a development program within the framework of the federal project “Priority 2030”. The university cooperates with the companies Amur Minerals, Polymetal and Polyus, creating joint laboratories and educational projects. Students already from the first year undergo internships at enterprises and work with real production problems.
Trans-Baikal State University has introduced the “University – GOK” model, where training is integrated into practice. Students combine study with work on a month-to-month schedule, receiving a salary and practical experience. Irkutsk Technical University has created the “Siberian School of Geosciences,” which uses an “inverted” education model with maximum immersion in the specialty from the first year.
These examples demonstrate that only close cooperation between educational institutions and mining companies will produce a sufficient number of qualified specialists for the mining industry.
The material was prepared with the support of the Russian Ministry of Education and Science as part of the Decade of Science and Technology.
Source: nedradv.ru
