Future of Work in Mining – Strategic Intelligence

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Published: March 03, 2025 Report Code: GDMIN-TR-S030-TH

Report Overview
Key Players
Table of Contents

Mining companies are investing in future of work technologies to enhance productivity, safety, cost efficiency, and mineral discovery. The impact of future of work technologies in mining is already
significant and will only grow in the coming years.

The future of work will transform mining
The technologies comprising GlobalData’s future of work framework are revolutionizing the mining sector. Automation can enhance productivity and safety by removing workers from hazardous environments and operating continuously. Visualization tools improve mine mapping, training, and mineral deposit identification. Connectivity allows teams to communicate, while AI platforms enable predictive mining equipment maintenance.

The geographical remoteness of mines and safety concerns have contributed to a severe skills shortage in the mining industry. According to a 2022 McKinsey survey, 86% of mining executives struggle to recruit and retain skilled workers. Future of work technologies can enhance training, equipment usability, and safety in mining, ultimately improving its image to prospective workers.

The future of mining is automated
Working in the mining sector will, and already does, involve using automated equipment across all points of the mining process. Automated or remote-controlled equipment can drill blast boreholes without human intervention. Autonomous trucks can take ore from sites to processing facilities, and autonomous trains can take the finished product to ports hundreds of kilometers away.

Future of work technologies are making mining safer
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, there were 31 mining fatalities in the US in 2024. While this was down from 41 in 2023, mining remains extremely dangerous. Future of work technologies play a crucial role in improving safety in mining by automating many dangerous jobs inside mines. Visualization technologies enhance employee training by realistically simulating underground working conditions. AI-powered wearable sensors can continuously monitor mine workers for signs of drowsiness, fatigue, and physical discomfort, enabling proactive measures to remove workers at heightened risk of accidents.

The technologies comprising GlobalData’s future of work framework are revolutionizing the mining sector. Automation can enhance productivity and safety by removing workers from hazardous environments and operating continuously. Visualization tools improve mine mapping, training, and mineral deposit identification. Connectivity allows teams to communicate, while AI platforms enable predictive mining equipment maintenance.

Scope

This report provides an overview of the future of work theme and how it will impact the mining industry.

The report predicts how the future of work in mining will evolve, including the key challenges it will solve.

It includes selected case studies highlighting who is innovating in mining using future of work technologies

The report also includes a comprehensive data analysis, including market size and growth forecasts for the future of work.

Key Highlights

Mining companies must prioritize investment in several areas of the future of work framework to remain competitive. Regarding automation, drones, autonomous haulage systems (AHSs), autonomous or remote-controlled mining equipment, and robots are already being adopted to improve productivity and safety. These technologies reduce costs in the long run and prevent workplace accidents by reducing the time workers spend in dangerous environments. AHS removes human error and fatigue from ore haulage while increasing productivity through constant availability.

printing allows mining companies to print equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), supporting more efficient inventory management closer to home. Workflow automation also assists mining companies by informing decision-making and optimizing resource allocation while automating repetitive tasks.

Visualization is another key investment opportunity for mining companies. Digital twins of mining sites help companies test new methodologies and plan schedules while allowing for predictive maintenance, ultimately optimizing the mining process.

augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) platforms allow for more realistic visual simulations, resulting in workers who are better prepared for emergency scenarios like cave-ins and malfunctions.

Connectivity is a must-have for all mining sites. Developing internet capabilities in mines is vital for communication between workers aboveground and underground, as it can improve response time to accidents and malfunctions. Underground internet also makes operations more efficient by optimizing the mining process through real-time monitoring of connected devices such as drills, trucks, and wearables. Better connectivity through 5G facilitates automation as the range of autonomous trucks increases proportionally to connectivity levels on a mine site. Historically, mining companies have struggled to implement sufficient internet due to the remoteness of many mines and the accompanying lack of infrastructure.

Reasons to Buy

GlobalData’s thematic research ecosystem is a single, integrated global research platform that provides an easy-to-use framework for tracking all themes across all companies in all sectors.

This report is essential for senior executives at minining companies to understand the critical benefits from integrating future of work technology into their operations. Mining companies who fail to implement future of work solutions will fall behind.

In addition, the report identifies the leading future of work adopters in mining, as well as specialist tech vendors in this space.

3D Systems (DDD)
ABB
Accenture
Agnico Eagle Mines
Airbotics
Alibaba
Anglo American
AngloGold Ashanti
Angofagasta
ArcelorMittal
Autodesk
AT&T
Amazon
American Robotics
Aquara
Baidu
Barrick Gold
BHP
Bentley Systems
Boliden
Caterpillar
ChAI Predict
China Shenhua Energy
Cisco (Webex)
Cloudera
Cruise (GM)
Dassault Systèmes
DataCloud
Delta Drone International
DJI
Epiroc
Ericsson
Evraz
ExoSphere
FANUC
First Quantum Minerals
Flyability
Fortescue
Fortescue Metals Group
Glencore
Gold Fields
Google (Alphabet)
GM (Cruise)
Huawei
Hexagon
Hindalco Industries
Honeywell
HP
IBM
Immersive Technologies
Imago
Kawasaki
Kennametal
Kespry
K2Fly
Komatsu
LGMG
Liebherr
Merge Labs
Meta
Midea (KUKA)
Microsoft
Midjourney
Midea (KUKA)
Nokia
Nvidia
OpenAI
Oracle
Parrot
RealWear
RCT
Rio Tinto
Rockwell Automation
Rokid
Salesforce
Samsung Electronics
Sandvik
Scania
Schneider Electric (Aveva)
Severstal
Seequent
Suncor Energy
Tata Consultancy Services
Tata Steel
Teck Resources
Teradyne
US Steel Corporation
UiPath
Verizon
Vale
Vuzix
Waymo (Alphabet)
Yuneec
Zjin Mining
Zyfra

Executive Summary

Players

GlobalData's Future of Work Framework

The Impact of the Future of Work on Mining

Case Studies

The Future of Work Timeline

Signals

Companies

Sector Scorecard

Glossary

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