Mining of the future: emerging competencies identified through the Delphi method

ABSTRACT Chilean large-scale mining is undergoing significant technological and organizational transformations that require updating the competency profiles of human capital to optimize the development of its operations in the extractive industry value chain. The lack of clear definitions and prioritization of emerging competencies hinders human resource planning, training program design, and strategic decision-making in a rapidly evolving context. The study aimed to identify the necessary competencies using the Delphi methodology, applying a mixed approach that integrates qualitative and quantitative analysis. To this end, two rounds of consultation were conducted with a panel of twelve experts, considering the diversity of work experience, using surveys with open and closed questions, to detect, validate, classify, prioritize, evaluate, and project these professional qualifications. Twenty-five essential competencies were identified, organized into five dimensions: technological, digital, socio-emotional, environmental, and ethical. The most prominent include integrity, responsibility, and honesty in the ethical domain, while cybersecurity is recognized as the main technological competency. The findings show that the development of mining 4.0 depends less on technology and more on the effective integration of human competencies, especially ethical and socio-emotional ones, providing evidence for sustainable and long-term planning in the sector.