The true test is yet to come
If money is the root of all evil, then not having any must also be the work of the devil! I know that’s a harsh and slightly blasphemous way of putting things, but just look at what’s happening to the world’s economy because of the all-mighty dollar, or lack thereof.
Over the past few months, there hasn’t been one industry that has missed the turbulent ride taken by the dollar and as all too many in the mining industry know first hand, it’s been a ride that has made many sick to their stomachs.
Of all the industries in the world, the mining sector is no stranger to boom and bust cycles, but the global financial crisis that defined the latter part of last year hit with such uncontrollable force that it really hurt. Still worse, it dealt a deadly knock-out blow to some.
To helplessly sit back and watch dreams and entire careers vanish without the financial power to do anything about it is something that many have never experienced. It’s a hopeless feeling. One that’s hard to describe unless you’re there now and you know exactly what I’m talking about.
The Great Depression of the 30s was something that most of today’s workforce have only heard or read about but now that a ‘second coming’ is on the doorstep, many people are not equipped, both mentally and financially, to handle the situation. Back in the 30s when the Depression actually did hit, people no doubt suffered, but unlike today’s victims, they didn’t have as much to lose because quite frankly, they didn’t have that much to start with.
Times back then were simpler, both in terms of opportunities and perhaps most importantly, expectations. Having a family and feeding it took priority over everything. Careers and promotions didn’t matter as much. Food on the table was all that mattered and ‘any job’ was good enough.
Today, however, ‘any job’ is not good enough for most of us because lifestyles and expectations have changed dramatically and working part-time, anywhere, as a means to survive just won’t cut it for most.
The fact is, much of today’s workforce is too technically pigeon-holed, and all-too-often unwilling to even consider doing anything other than what’s currently in front of them.
Unlike earlier times when “any job” would do, most of us today are also very limited as to what jobs we can do.
For example, take a look at the Want Ads in any paper across the country and although they’re quite small by comparison to a few years ago when companies were actually looking for people, check out how many jobs you can’t do. Not can do, but can’t do. Scary isn’t it?
My point is, much of today’s workforce, especially those involved with mining, are pretty limited in terms of what skills they can offer the outside world. Similar to auto workers, miners are specific to their industry and the next year or two is going to be tough and even tougher should they find themselves looking for a new kind of work.
Regardless of skills and years of devoted service, miners at all levels, and that especially includes the many prized and once-elusive people at the executives levels, are now facing one of the most uncertain times in their professional lives.
As I said at the outset, the bumpy ride ahead will make quite a few us sick to our stomachs but just as in life, that sick feeling will gradually go away as the ride gets smoother. And it will, but hold on in the meantime because the world’s economy is still going to throw in a few curves to test our fortitudes.
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