Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Minerals Sector: A Real Time Survey

Abstract

Abstract Through the implementation of an online survey, run at the end of April 2020, researchers at the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG) explored the immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the minerals sector workforce. With more than 1,000 respondents, the survey provides insights into the impact of an unprecedented global event at a crucial point in its development. Seven weeks after the World Health Organization’s declaration of the pandemic, 65% of survey respondents agreed that COVID-19 had a significant impact on their work. Overall, 32% of respondents had experienced negative impacts on their employment, having either lost their jobs or been furloughed/temporarily laid off, or were working reduced hours. Geographically, the greatest impact on employment was in Africa, where 45% of respondents suffered negative effects. More often, younger respondents (ages 18–30) reported lost jobs (14%) whereas older survey participants reported working reduced hours (21%, ages 46–60). Respondents working in mineral exploration were most affected (40% suffered negative job impacts), but the impact across base, industrial, and precious metals was broadly similar for all participants; government employees were least affected but were not immune (10% on reduced hours). The level of concern about future job security due to the COVID-19 crisis varied, with 35% of respondents being more or very concerned or having already lost their jobs, 43% had little or no concern, and 22% were moderately concerned. The survey captured the experiences and perceptions of individual workers, providing a perspective different from information available in corporate statements and official statistics.