Why The U.S. Is Running Out Of Mining Workers

The U.S. is running out of miners. More than half of the nation’s mining workforce, about 220,000 workers, are expected to retire by 2029 and the number of candidates willing to fill those slots is shrinking. At the same time, demand for minerals like lithium, cobalt and copper, critical components used to make batteries for electric vehicles and smartphones, is rising. Globally at least 384 new mines will need to be built to meet demand for EV’s by 2035. To better understand the role miners play in the transition to green energy, CNBC got a behind-the-scenes look at Rio Tinto's copper mining operation in Utah.

Chapters:
0:00-2:34 Intro
2:35-5:16 Chapter 1 - Mine work
5:17-9:17 Chapter 2 - Miner shortage
9:18-12:44 Chapter 3 - Automation in mining

Produced by: Shawn Baldwin
Edited by: Nic Golden Henry
Supervising Producer: Jeniece Pettitt
Additional Camera: Katie Brigham, Magdalena Petrova
Additional Footage: Getty Images, Rio Tinto

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Why The U.S. Is Running Out Of Mining Workers