Career Paths

There are over 120 careers in the BC minerals industry. Information on various occupations are now just a click away.

Career Paths

Mineral Industry Careers

The following two links are general resources you can use to search occupations related to the minerals industry:

 

WorkBC is committed to help British Columbians successfully navigate B.C.’s labour market. You can search the comprehensive job board or use up-to-date labour market information to help guide your education and career path.

 

Mining Industry Human Reources Council (MiHR) has identified 66 occupations in their report, British Columbia Hiring Requirements and Available Talent Forecasts 2012, that are defined as essential to the mining, mineral and exploration sector.

Listed below are the National Occupation Classification (NOC) definitions of the occupations that the Mining Industry Human Resources Council identified in their report. Click on the blue bar to expand the list.

Business, Finance & Administrative Occupations

  • Financial auditors examine and analyze the accounting and financial records of individuals and establishments to ensure accuracy and compliance with established accounting standards and procedures. Accountants plan, organize and administer accounting systems for individuals and establishments.

  • Financial and investment analysts collect and analyze financial information such as economic forecasts, trading volumes and the movement of capital, financial backgrounds of companies, historical performances and future trends of stocks, bonds and other investment instruments to provide financial and investment or financing advice for their company or their company's clients.

  • Specialists in human resources develop, implement and evaluate human resources and labour relations policies, programs and procedures and advise managers and employers on personnel matters.

  • Secretaries perform a variety of administrative duties in support of managerial and professional employers.

  • Administrative clerks compile, verify, record and process forms and documents, such as applications, licences, permits, contracts, registrations and requisitions, in accordance with established procedures, guidelines and schedules. 

  • Production Clerks - NOC 1473

    Production clerks co-ordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within an establishment, prepare work and production schedules and monitor the progress of production and construction projects.

  • Dispatchers operate radios and other telecommunication equipment to dispatch emergency vehicles and to co-ordinate the activities of drivers and other personnel.

  • Transportation route and crew schedulers prepare operational and crew schedules for transportation equipment and operating personnel.

  • Chemists - NOC 2112

    Chemists conduct research and analysis in support of industrial operations, product and process development, quality control, environmental control, medical diagnosis and treatment, biotechnology and other applications.

 

Management Occupations
  • Financial Managers - NOC 1111

    Accountants and financial auditors organize and analyze the financial records and transactions kept by individuals or businesses.

  • Human resources managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of human resources and personnel departments.

  • Engineering managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of an engineering department, service or firm.

  • Construction managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the activities of a construction company or a construction department within a company, under the direction of a general manager or other senior manager.

  • Primary production managers plan, organize, direct, control and evaluate the operations of establishments in the following primary industries: forestry and logging, mining and quarrying, oil and gas drilling, production and servicing operations, and commercial fishing.

 

Natural & Applied Sciences & Related Occupations

  • Geologists, geochemists and geophysicists conduct programs of exploration and research to extend knowledge of the structure, composition and processes of the earth, to locate and identify hydrocarbon, mineral and groundwater resources, to plan and implement programs of hydrocarbon and mineral extraction and to assess and mitigate the effects of development and waste disposal projects on the environment.

  • This group includes metallurgists, soil scientists and physical science occupations which are not elsewhere classified, and involve the conduct of theoretical and applied research in fields of physical science

  • Biologists and related scientists conduct basic and applied research to extend knowledge of living organisms, to manage natural resources, and to develop new practices and products related to medicine and agriculture.

  • Civil engineers plan, design, develop and manage projects for the construction or repair of buildings, earth structures, powerhouses, roads, airports, railways, rapid transit facilities, bridges, tunnels, canals, dams, ports and coastal installations and systems related to highway and transportation services, water distribution and sanitation.

  • Mechanical engineers research, design and develop machinery and systems for heating, ventilating and air conditioning, power generation, transportation, processing and manufacturing.

  • Electrical and electronics engineers design, plan, research, evaluate and test electrical and electronic equipment and systems.

  • Chemical engineers research, design, and develop chemical processes and equipment, oversee the operation and maintenance of industrial chemical, plastics, pharmaceutical, resource, pulp, and food processing plants and perform duties related to chemical quality control, environmental protection and biochemical or biotechnical engineering.

  • Industrial and manufacturing engineers conduct studies, and develop and supervise programs to achieve the best use of equipment, human resources, technology, materials and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity.

  • Metallurgical and materials engineers conduct studies of the properties and characteristics of metals and other non-metallic materials and plan, design and develop machinery and processes to concentrate, extract, refine and process metals, alloys and other materials such as ceramics, semiconductors and composite materials.

  • Mining Engineers - NOC 2143

    Mining engineers plan, design, organize and supervise the development of mines, mine facilities, systems and equipment; and prepare and supervise the extraction of metallic or non-metallic minerals and ores from underground or surface mines.

  • Geological engineers conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess suitability of locations for civil engineering, mining and oil and gas projects; and plan, design, develop and supervise programs of geological data acquisition and analysis and the preparation of geological engineering reports and recommendations.

  • This group includes agricultural and bio-resource engineers, biomedical engineers, engineering physicists and engineering scientists, marine and naval engineers, textile engineers and other specialized engineering occupations which are not classified elsewhere.

  • Land Surveyors - NOC 2154

    Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys.

  • Chemical technologists and technicians provide technical support and services or may work independently in chemical engineering, chemical and biochemical research and analysis, industrial chemistry, chemical quality control and environmental protection.

  • Geological engineers conduct geological and geotechnical studies to assess suitability of locations for civil engineering, mining and oil and gas projects; and plan, design, develop and supervise programs of geological data acquisition and analysis and the preparation of geological engineering reports and recommendations.

  • Biological technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals working in fields such as agriculture, resource management, environmental protection, plant and animal biology, microbiology, cell and molecular biology and health sciences, or may work independently in these fields.

  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals, or may work independently in fields such as structural engineering, municipal engineering, construction design and supervision, highways and transportation engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering and environmental protection.

  • Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services or may work independently in mechanical engineering fields such as the design, development, maintenance and testing of machines, components, tools, heating and ventilating systems, power generation and power conversion plants, manufacturing plants and equipment.

  • Civil engineering technologists and technicians provide technical support and services to scientists, engineers and other professionals, or may work independently in fields such as structural engineering, municipal engineering, construction design and supervision, highways and transportation engineering, water resources engineering, geotechnical engineering and environmental protection.

  • Construction estimators analyze costs of and prepare estimates on civil engineering, architectural, structural, electrical and mechanical construction projects.

  • Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians may work independently or provide technical support and services in the design, development, testing, production and operation of electrical and electronic equipment and systems.

  • Drafting technologists and technicians prepare engineering designs, drawings and related technical information, in multidisciplinary engineering teams or in support of engineers, architects or industrial designers, or they may work independently.

  • Land surveyors plan, direct and conduct legal surveys to establish the location of real property boundaries, contours and other natural or human-made features, and prepare and maintain cross-sectional drawings, official plans, records and documents pertaining to these surveys.

  • Mapping and related technologists and technicians gather, analyze, interpret and use geospatial information for applications in natural resources, geology, environment and land use planning.

  • Engineering inspectors and regulatory officers inspect transportation vehicles such as aircraft, watercraft, automobiles and trucks and weighing and measuring devices such as scales and meters as well as industrial instruments, processes and equipment for conformity to government and industry standards and regulations.

  • Inspectors in this group evaluate and monitor health and safety hazards and develop strategies to control risks in the workplace.

 

Occupations Unique To Primary Industry

  • Supervisors in this group supervise and co-ordinate activities of workers engaged in underground and surface mining operations and quarries.

  • Underground production and development miners drill, blast, operate mining machinery, and perform related duties to extract coal and ore in underground mines and to construct tunnels, passageways and shafts to facilitate mining operations.

  • Underground mine service and support workers perform a range of duties related to the operation of ore passes, chutes and conveyor systems.

  • Mine Labourers - NOC 8614

    Mine labourers carry out a variety of general labour duties to assist in the extraction of coal, minerals and ore, and in other services in support of underground mining.

 

Occupations Unique To Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities
 
Sales & Service Occupations
  • Cooks - NOC 6242

    Cooks prepare and cook a wide variety of foods.

 

Trades, Transport & Equipment Operators & Related Occupations

  • This group includes plumbing and other pipefitting trade contractors who own and operate their own businesses.

  • This group includes heating, refrigeration, air conditioning, millwrighting and elevator installation trade contractors who own and operate their own businesses.

  • Plumbers - NOC 7251

    Plumbers install, repair and maintain pipes, fixtures and other plumbing equipment used for water distribution and waste water disposal in residential, commercial and industrial buildings.

  • Steamfitters and pipefitters lay out, assemble, fabricate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair piping systems carrying water, steam, chemicals and fuel in heating, cooling, lubricating and other process piping systems.

  • Industrial electricians install, maintain, test, troubleshoot and repair industrial electrical equipment and associated electrical and electronic controls.

  • Welders operate welding equipment to weld ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

  • Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics install, maintain, troubleshoot and repair stationary industrial machinery and mechanical equipment.

  • Heavy-duty equipment mechanics repair, troubleshoot, adjust, overhaul and maintain mobile heavy-duty equipment used in construction, transportation, forestry, mining, oil and gas, material handling, landscaping, land clearing, farming and similar activities.

  • Heavy equipment operators operate heavy equipment used in the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges, airports, gas and oil pipelines, tunnels, buildings and other structures; in surface mining and quarrying activities; and in material handling work.

  • Crane Operators - NOC 7371

    Crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects at construction or industrial sites, ports, railway yards, surface mines and other similar locations.

  • Drillers in this group operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites. Blasters in this unit group fill blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures.

  • Drillers in this group operate mobile drilling machines to bore blast holes in open-pit mines and quarries and to bore holes for blasting and for building foundations at construction sites. Blasters in this unit group fill blast holes with explosives and detonate explosives to dislodge coal, ore and rock or to demolish structures.

  • Truck Drivers - NOC 7411

    Truck drivers operate heavy trucks to transport goods and materials over urban, interurban, provincial and international routes.

  • Material Handlers - NOC 7452

    Material handlers are workers who handle, move, load and unload materials by hand or using a variety of material handling equipment.

  • Construction trades helpers and labourers assist skilled tradespersons and perform activities at construction sites, in quarries and in surface mines.

  • This group includes trade helpers and labourers, who assist skilled tradespersons and perform activities in the installation, maintenance and repair of industrial machinery, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning equipment, in the maintenance and repair of transportation and heavy equipment, in the installation and repair of telecommunication and power cables and in other repair and service work settings.

  • Carpenters - NOC 7271

    Carpenters construct, erect, install, maintain and repair structures and components of structures made of wood, wood substitutes, lightweight steel and other materials.