By christian.conteh@awokonewspaper.sl
Freetown, Sierra Leone – Sierra Leone’s mining sector saw an extraordinary leap in employment in 2023, with job opportunities skyrocketing by over 207% compared to the previous year. According to the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) report for 2022-2023, released on December 30, 2024, the sector employed a total of 32,443 people in 2023, a dramatic rise from the 10,539 recorded in 2022. This growth underscores the sector’s critical role in driving economic development and boosting livelihoods across the country.
The most significant contributor to this employment surge was the domestic workforce, which grew by an impressive 246%. Jobs filled by local workers jumped from 9,076 in 2022 to 31,408 in 2023. Several key trends emerged:
Permanent Male Employees: The number of permanent male workers soared from 8,597 in 2022 to 27,932 in 2023, making up the largest segment of growth.
Non-Permanent Roles: Temporary or contract positions saw a substantial increase, with both male and female non-permanent roles growing from 479 in 2022 to 3,476 in 2023.
Female Representation: Although women’s employment climbed by 238%, from 1,048 in 2022 to 3,544 in 2023, women still made up only 10.9% of the workforce, underscoring a persistent gender imbalance that demands attention.
While domestic employment surged, foreign workers saw only a modest rise. Foreign employment increased from 437 workers in 2022 to 539 in 2023, with permanent male foreign workers growing from 360 to 412, and permanent female foreign workers increasing slightly from 22 to 65. However, the share of foreign workers as part of the overall workforce dropped from 4.1% in 2022 to 1.7% in 2023, reflecting the sector’s shift toward employing more local talent.
Several mining companies made notable contributions to the employment boom:
Kingho Railway and Port Co. Ltd: A massive workforce increase from 2,382 in 2022 to 22,184 in 2023, making it the largest employer in the sector.
Kingho Mining Company: Employment rose by 75%, from 2,526 in 2022 to 3,950 in 2023, signalling the company’s operational expansion.
Marampa Mines Ltd: Workforce numbers grew by 49%, from 997 in 2022 to 1,484 in 2023, driven by increased iron ore production.
Sierra Rutile Ltd: Employment dipped slightly from 2,371 in 2022 to 2,065 in 2023, suggesting potential operational challenges.
FG Gold Ltd: A sharp rise in employment, from 205 in 2022 to 339 in 2023, highlighted the expanding gold mining activities.
The surge in employment across the mining sector holds significant economic implications for Sierra Leone:
Increased Revenue Generation: Higher employment levels mean more household incomes and greater tax contributions, boosting the national economy.
Community Impact: Job creation within the mining sector stimulates local economies, reducing poverty and improving living standards in mining communities.
Workforce Localization: The rise in domestic employment aligns with government efforts to reduce dependency on foreign labour, ensuring that more of the sector’s benefits stay within Sierra Leone.
Challenges on the Horizon
Despite the sector’s impressive growth, several challenges remain:
Gender Disparity: Women still account for a small portion of the workforce, indicating a need for stronger inclusion policies that promote gender equity in mining jobs.
Operational Declines: The decline in employment at companies like Sierra Rutile Ltd raises concerns about the sustainability of operations.
Job Quality: As employment rises, ensuring fair wages, decent working conditions, and safety measures will be critical to maintaining a positive growth trajectory.
The mining sector’s 2023 employment growth tells a story of economic resilience and opportunity for Sierra Leone. Yet, the challenges ahead call for thoughtful policies to ensure that this expansion benefits all workers and sustains long-term prosperity for the nation. CC/6/1/2025
