--- canonical_url: "https://csls.ca/research/labour-market-prospects-for-the-metis-in-the-canadian-mining-industry/" title: "Labour Market Prospects for the Métis in the Canadian Mining Industry" author: name: "CSLS" url: "https://csls.ca/author/cslc/" date_published: "2026-07-02T13:03:50+00:00" date_modified: "2026-07-02T13:03:50+00:00" post_type: "research" summary: "" post_tag: - "ASETS" - "Canada" - "education" - "employment" - "Indigenous" - "labour market" - "Métis" - "Métis National Council" - "mining industry" - "rural" country_focus: - "Canada" province_region: - "National" research_theme: - "Indigenous Economic Development" - "Labour Markets" - "Sector/Industry Analysis" featured_image: "https://csls.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/old-reports_hero_banner_bg.webp" status: "publish" --- # Labour Market Prospects for the Métis in the Canadian Mining Industry Canonical URL: https://csls.ca/research/labour-market-prospects-for-the-metis-in-the-canadian-mining-industry/ # Labour Market Prospects for the Métis in the Canadian Mining Industry [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2013-02-1.pdf) Cite this report × Cite this report as: Capeluck, Evan, and Andrew Sharpe. 2013. “Labour Market Prospects for the Métis in the Canadian Mining Industry.” CSLS Research Report 2013-02. Ottawa: Centre for the Study of Living Standards. https://csls.ca/research/labour-market-prospects-for-the-metis-in-the-canadian-mining-industry/ ## Authors: - Evan Capeluck Norman Paterson School of International Affairs, Carleton University - Andrew Sharpe Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) ## Report 2013-02 May 2013 142 pages ## Related research [Closing the First Nations Education Gap in Canada: Assessing Progress and Estimating the Economic Benefits — An Update Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) February 2023 | Report 2023-01 | 101 pages](https://csls.ca/research/closing-the-first-nations-education-gap-in-canada-assessing-progress-and-estimating-the-economic-benefits-an-update-2023-01/) [Measuring the Appropriate Outcomes for Better Decision-Making: A Framework to Guide the Analysis of Health Policy Matthew Calver March 2016 | Report 2016-03 | 132 pages](https://csls.ca/research/measuring-the-appropriate-outcomes-for-better-decision-making-a-framework-to-guide-the-analysis-of-health-policy-2016-03/) [Living Standards Domain of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing Andrew Sharpe, Christopher Ross November 2011 | Report 2011-17 | 124 pages](https://csls.ca/research/living-standards-domain-of-the-canadian-index-of-wellbeing-2011-17/) [Productivity: Key to Economic Success Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) March 1998 | Report 1998-01 | 99 pages](https://csls.ca/research/productivity-key-to-economic-success/) [Apprenticeship in Canada: A Training System Under Siege? 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The Canadian mining industry accounted for somewhere between two and five per cent of nominal GDP in Canada – depending on which definition of the mining industry is used – in 2008. This industry, concentrated in rural and remote locations, represents an important potential source of employment for the comparatively large youthful and rural Métis population entering the labour market in the coming decades. The mining industry has unique locational dynamics and hiring practices, a highly productive and experienced but aging work force, and growth prospects that are heavily reliant on global demand. Skilled workers are needed to replace the mining industry’s soon-to-be-retired baby boomers and to replace other workers leaving the industry. The Métis have unique demographic characteristics, which could create competitive advantages for employment in the mining industry; however, they are at risk of being unable to take advantage of the upcoming job openings if they cannot meet the educational requirements for employment in that industry. L’objectif de ce rapport est d’examiner les perspectives d’emploi des Métis dans l’industrie minière, compte tenu d’une vague imminente de départs à la retraite; de déterminer les obstacles potentiels à l’emploi des Métis dans cette industrie; et de cerner les mesures et stratégies que le Ralliement national des Métis (RNM) et les signataires de l’entente sur la Stratégie de formation pour les compétences et l’emploi destinée aux Autochtones métis (SFCEA) devraient adopter pour tirer parti des possibilités d’emploi dans l’industrie minière et surmonter les obstacles qui s’y rattachent. L’industrie minière canadienne représentait entre deux et cinq pour cent du PIB nominal du Canada — selon la définition utilisée pour l’industrie minière — en 2008. Cette industrie, concentrée dans des régions rurales et éloignées, représente une source potentielle d’emploi importante pour la population métisse, relativement jeune et rurale, qui entrera sur le marché du travail au cours des prochaines décennies. L’industrie minière présente une dynamique d’emplacement et des pratiques d’embauche uniques, une main-d’œuvre hautement productive et expérimentée mais vieillissante, ainsi que des perspectives de croissance fortement tributaires de la demande mondiale. Des travailleurs qualifiés sont nécessaires pour remplacer les baby-boomers de l’industrie minière qui prendront bientôt leur retraite, ainsi que les autres travailleurs qui quittent l’industrie. Les Métis présentent des caractéristiques démographiques uniques qui pourraient leur conférer des avantages concurrentiels pour l’emploi dans l’industrie minière; cependant, ils risquent de ne pas pouvoir profiter des futurs postes vacants s’ils ne peuvent répondre aux exigences en matière de scolarité. [Download full PDF report](https://csls.ca/pdf/csls2013-02-1.pdf)