Pub. 8 2018 Issue 2

8 AT THE CENTER OF UTAH INDUSTRY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE continued from page 7 Utahans about today’s safe, environmentally responsible and technologically advanced mining industry. As we engage with students from elementary school through the university level, one glaring realization is that there is a lack of understanding about the types and diversity of jobs available in the mining industry. Simply put, kids today do not immediately think of the mining industry when considering career options. That should change. Workforce issues are a significant challenge for the mining industry. The industry is going to face a shortage of workers over the next couple of decades. Not only are more mining jobs going to be needed in the future as society’s demand for minerals increases and the industry expands, but when you couple that with the impending retirements from an aging workforce, less than half the mining workforce in place today will be present in 20 years. We are talking about well-paying, technologically advanced jobs in an industry that reaches every corner of Utah. Mining can contribute in a substantial way to meeting Governor Herbert’s goal of creating 25,000 jobs in rural Utah over the next four years. Even better, those mining jobs pay nearly twice the statewide average wage. That is why we support Governor Herbert’s proclamation of 2018 as “The Year of Technical Education” and are proud to be a part of Industry Engaged in Education, a workforce development coalition of industry trade groups and business leaders supporting Career and Technical Education in Utah. You can read more about this endeavor and how you can participate in this issue of Mining Focus . At the Utah Mining Association, it is a priority to educate the public about the importance of our industry. We must help people make the connection between mining and their lifestyle and standard of living. At the same time, that education can help recruit our future workforce, keeping the mining industry in Utah strong for generations to come. X That is why we support Governor Herbert’s proclamation of 2018 as “The Year of Technical Education” and are proud to be a part of Industry Engaged in Education , a workforce development coalition of industry trade groups and business leaders supporting Career and Technical Education in Utah.