Join the Jobs Boom: Northwestern Ontario is the next mining powerhouse

As a regional exploration hub, mining is big business in Thunder Bay.

Approximately 850 Thunder Bay residents work at mines, and 400 Thunder Bay mine service and supply companies support mining. In recent years, new discoveries and a strong metals market have driven interest in exploration and mining in Northwestern Ontario. Similar in size to France, Northwestern Ontario is a vast land of minerals with gold production from five mines, and soon to be six. The Lac des Iles mine north of Thunder Bay is the only pure play palladium mine in Canada. In addition, 15 major exploration projects are Northwestern Ontario's future producing mines!

Discover the benefits of moving to Thunder Bay!

As of 2016, there were 1,770 jobs classified as directly part of the mining industry in Thunder Bay. However, many more jobs indirectly make up the mining labour force as they provide support and service to the industry. This includes manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and utilities work. Thunder Bay is home to a highly educated and diversified skilled trade’s labour force. Industry experts estimate there are approximately 6,000 trades people in Northwestern Ontario who work in the industrial, commercial, and institutional sectors. In 2016, 8.9% of the Thunder Bay labour force had some type of apprenticeship, trades certificate or diploma. This is higher than the 6% average across the province of Ontario.

Critical minerals consist of the metals cobalt, copper, nickel, uranium, lithium, magnesium, platinum group metals, rare earth elements and others, and are vital in aerospace, telecommunications, computing, and an array of clean technology industries.

Canada ranks among the top five exports of various critical minerals including platinum group metals, nickel, cobalt, and graphite.

Northwestern Ontario currently has eight advanced critical mineral exploration sites, including lithium, graphite, copper and platinum group metals (palladium) providing an opportunity for the province to become a leading jurisdiction in critical mineral production.

Critical minerals like lithium and graphite also require processing of the raw mined material to create a useable product, presenting an opportunity for Northwestern Ontario to become a leader in the chemical processing and conversion of critical minerals to provide products for clean technologies such as batteries for electric vehicles and large scale electrical grid energy storage.

Discover the benefits of moving to Thunder Bay!

Mining is one of the highest-paying industrial sectors in Canada. Mining employees earn more than counterparts in utilities, forestry, manufacturing and construction. Job security is also an attractive feature of jobs in the mining sector. The jobs listed on this site are pulled directly from the mine’s career page. To apply or to find more information regarding a job you must visit the mine’s website directly. The Thunder Bay CEDC will not accept job applications for any jobs listed below.

Check out jobs and real estate at:

https://gotothunderbay.ca/key-sectors/mining/mining-job-bank/

https://www.realtor.ca/on/greater-thunder-bay/real-estate