Digging deep for technical skills

Modernisation and digitisation of African mining operations are driving demand for a new set of skills. “While Africa remains a space where we often get things done unconventionally compared to the rest of the world, technology and AI are seeping into the industry, and tech-savvy candidates are being looked at with a keen eye,” says Steff De Wit, managing director of Switch Recruit. “Across southern Africa, mining and minerals companies are facing a rapidly evolving workforce and talent landscape. “Hiring demand has become more selective and skills driven,” she adds. This is despite a continued shortage of experienced technical and operational talent locally, particularly in engineering, maintenance, processing and safety-critical roles. “Demand for professionals with hands-on mining experience, especially those familiar with remote site operations and high-production environments, continues to outstrip supply,” she told Freight News. With their skills in demand, professionals are able to be more selective about where they work. “Site location is a factor in candidates’ decision-making, particularly those with families. “It is important that we know how to unpack this with them, understand needs around what would be sustainable for them and their families, and to ensure we match correctly. “Given the safety-critical nature of mining operations, we place greater emphasis on site- specific requirements, ensuring candidates are fully compliant before placement, so reducing onboarding risk for our clients. “Our candidate prequalification process includes more in-depth competency and behavioural interviews. “This allows us to assess not only technical capability, but also suitability for remote sites, shift work, production pressure and strict safety cultures, which are key factors in long-term retention within mining environments.” According to De Wit, demand for mining talent in southern Africa is being driven by ongoing and new projects in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. “We are also seeing heightened demand in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), West and East Africa, where foreign investment seems to be driving growth. The mix of skills required reflects the priorities of the mining industry, which extend beyond the pit. “We have deepened our specialisation across freight, logistics and supply chain, recognising that the mining sector is a highly niche environment requiring a high level of expertise to operate successfully. “Demand has increased for specialised talent that directly supports production continuity and cost-control with minimal ramp-up time. “Environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements are also a factor, with mining companies prioritising candidates, especially at management and supervisory levels, where accountability is higher.” There is also a strong shift toward contract, project-based and shutdown hiring, she said. ER