Potash company employs Aboriginal hiring strategy to fill labour shortage

As the Saskatchewan mining industry faces a looming labour shortage, PotashCorp is hoping to find new employees in the Aboriginal community.

“As a result of our expansions and anticipated retirements, we have the challenge of having more jobs than people,” said Leanne Bellegarde, director of the Aboriginal strategy for PotashCorp.

“We’ve really looked at the opportunity in Saskatchewan that Métis and First Nations people represent as a largely unattached work force.”

According to a recent report released by Ottawa-based Mining Industry Human Resource Council, the mining industry in Saskatchewan is expected to face a massive labour crunch. The council said the mining industry will have to find between 15,000 and 20,000 workers in the next 10 years.

To deal with the shortfall of workers, Bellegarde said PotashCorp has been working on an Aboriginal recruitment strategy. The company’s main goal is to ensure people in the Aboriginal community know what jobs are available.

Bellegarde has been attending job fairs to recruit workers. She has also invited chiefs, Métis leaders, and representatives from schools to tour various potash facilities.

“Three hundred have come on tour with me,” she said. “We have really exposed them to what a potash operation is all about. We’re trying to get on their radar as a potential career opportunity. We’re also telling (students) to stay in school so they can take advantage. A good third of our needs will be those entry level positions that require grade 12 or GED (General Education Development).”

Because of that, Bellegarde said PotashCorp is committed to improving education outcomes and the company has been looking at ways to support communities.

“Is it after school programming? How can we support communities to keep the kids in schools? We are asking those questions and figuring out what the solutions are in a collaborative way.”

Bellegarde said that even though many of the positions are entry level, most can develop in to long-term careers for people.

Bellegarde said there will be anywhere from 600 to 800 jobs in the next couple of years.

“If we don’t get them in the door now, they aren’t going to be here in five years or 10 years in management positions,” she said. “Our positions are not short term. Our employment opportunities are for careers in mining. We want people to understand that and to make that decision that we are the company for them.”

Since the company is hoping for an influx of Aboriginal employees, Bellegarde said PotashCorp is preparing employees by offering cultural awareness sessions.
“There are a lot of myths and stereotypes that persist about First Nations and Métis people, many which are negative,” said Bellegarde.

By the end of the year, Bellegarde said all 2,200 employees will have gone through a half-day session about Aboriginal issues.

“We do our best to prepare our workplace so that these persistent stereotypes don’t become the source of potential friction so people can come to work on focus on doing a good job.”

Bellegarde said PotashCorp will be doing a round of job hires this fall and she is optimistic that many hired will be Aboriginal.