The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) has announced a Notice of Intent for up to $100 million to strengthen America’s critical minerals workforce.
The nationwide Providing Opportunities for Specialised Education in Critical Technologies (PROSPECT) initiative will expand educational opportunities and develop the skilled workforce needed to support the domestic production, processing, recovery, and recycling of critical minerals.
In the near term, PROSPECT aims to double the number of graduates with degrees related to mining, minerals, and associated supply chain technologies within two years.
In the long term, PROSPECT will support the implementation of new curricula, teaching tools, financial-aid programs, and other incentives that promote continued growth in these fields.
Equipping the next generation of ‘America’s industrial renaissance’
“A strong domestic mining and minerals workforce is essential to powering America’s future, strengthening our national security, and ending our dependence on foreign adversaries for the materials that underpin modern energy, manufacturing, and defense,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Through the PROSPECT initiative, the Department is investing in the next generation of American engineers, scientists, and skilled workers who will help unleash American energy and ensure the United States remains the world’s leading energy powerhouse.”
“Our brightest students are looking for a challenge—and a calling,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson. “PROSPECT invites them to work at the intersection of cutting-edge science and their country’s highest strategic priorities. This unprecedented investment in the critical minerals workforce will funnel homegrown talent into fulfilling, high-demand careers at the forefront of America’s industrial renaissance.”
The workforce will need to grow significantly to support a strengthened domestic mining sector
The United States faces significant workforce shortages across the critical minerals and materials supply chain, limiting the nation’s ability to meet growing demand for the resources essential to energy, advanced manufacturing, and national defense.
DOE estimates the United States will need approximately 6,000 new engineers in the mining sector alone over the next decade, while shortages in materials science, processing, and recycling continue to challenge efforts to strengthen domestic supply chains.
PROSPECT will help address these workforce gaps by supporting scholarships, financial assistance, and other initiatives that strengthen higher education programs focused on critical minerals and related technologies. By investing in American students today, the program will help ensure the United States has the workforce needed to responsibly develop domestic mineral resources and secure the nation’s energy future.
