The employment decline in Canadian mineral industries which began in 1990 continued in 1991. Reductions brought direct employment in mining and primary metals to 138,343, down 5% from 1990 and the lowest level since 1961.
Metal mines employment (43,134) was also at its lowest level in 30 years. This figure represents a 6% decline from the 1990 level. Only gold mines (12,341) showed a modest 3% increase.
A 1% drop brought non-metal mining employment to 11,583 in 1991. Structural materials (4,990) followed a 3-year dropping trend, 8% lower than 1990. The coal workforce (12,045) increased by 3% over 1990, and stands at its highest level since 1985.
Employment reached a 28-year low in both iron and steel mills (38,072) and non-ferrous smelting and refining (28,519). The iron and steel workforce was down 5%, and non-ferrous smelting and refining employed 6% fewer than in 1990. The 1991 employment in non-fuel semi-fabrication sank to 79,345, a 1-year fall of 13%. A 20% drop brought metallic mineral manufacturing jobs to 112,344. Employment in mining diamond drilling remained stable at 1,856. Although these reductions are dramatic, a comparison with the restructuring which took place during the early 1980s places them in perspective. All told, 35,128 jobs were eliminated in minerals and metals from 1981 to 1983, a decrease of 18%, compared with a loss of 7,180 in 1991.
Employment in mining and mineral manufacturing was streamlined from 1981 to 1983 by 77,129, an 18% reduction, compared with the contraction of 47,964 in 1991.
Nancy Porter is with the Mineral Policy Sector of Energy, Mines and Resources Canada.
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