Skills & Training
Mining supports over 56,000 jobs across BC, from engineers and geologists to tradespeople and heavy equipment operators. Find training pathways, post-secondary programs, and career resources for people entering or advancing in the sector.
Mining in BC, by the numbers
56,000+ Jobs
Mining and smelting in BC support more than 56,000 workers.
~$140,000
Average salary: Among the highest of any sector in the province (2022 data)
4,000+
BC businesses supported: mine sites rely on a province-wide supply chain employing skilled workers in every region
31 Projects
Representing thousands of new jobs at every stage – from construction to operations
Explore Career Options
The sector draws on more than 120 different careers. The roles below represent some of the most in-demand, spanning trades, technical, and professional pathways.
Mining Engineer
Mining engineers plan, design, and oversee the extraction of minerals and metals. The work spans everything from assessing a site’s potential to managing safe, efficient production. A degree in mining engineering from a BC institution like UBC or BCIT is the typical path in.
Skills & Training in BC Mining
The Demand Is Real. The Gaps Are Measurable
In 2025, MABC partnered with the BC Centre of Training Excellence in Mining to examine the province’s mining workforce in detail. The findings were clear: demand for skilled workers is growing across the sector’s most critical occupations, while the pool of qualified BC-based workers is not keeping pace.
The sector currently relies on out-of-province workers for roughly 28 per cent of its workforce. Without coordinated investment in training and workforce development, that gap is likely to grow.
The full research findings are available below.
Good Pay. Real Work. Open Positions.
MABC member companies are actively hiring across trades, technical, and professional roles. Browse open positions directly through member career portals.
Education Pathways
How to Get There
Whether you’re finishing high school, exploring a mid-career change, or researching programs for someone you know, BC has well-established pathways into mining. Below are some of the institutions and programs worth looking at.
BCIT offers applied engineering programs with direct pathways into mine site roles. The Mining Engineering specialty within the Civil Engineering Technology program is recognized by industry across BC.
UBC’s Mining Engineering program is one of the most established in Canada, covering mine design, rock mechanics, mineral processing, and mine management. Undergraduate and graduate options available.
Based in the Kootenays, Selkirk’s two-year diploma program trains students for field-based roles in mineral exploration, mine operations, and environmental work. Strong industry placements.
UNBC’s programs in natural resources and environmental management serve students looking to work in environmental roles at mine sites or in land-use planning tied to resource industries.
Heavy equipment operation, millwright work, electrical trades, and welding are all in-demand at BC mine sites. SkilledTradesBC administers apprenticeship programs and Red Seal certification for trades workers across the province.
A national resource for mining career information, MiHR publishes labour market data, career profiles, and workforce training tools. A useful starting point for anyone researching the industry.
Stay Informed
Mining benefits BC more than most people realize
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