Research into the motivational mechanism in activities of Russian mining companies in the critical metals segment as a factor in improving the quality of production efficiency

This paper presents a research into employee motivation in the mining industry of the Russian Federation. The mining industry is the foundation of economic stability for resource-rich countries and is critical to global supply chains. Despite having its own resource base, Russian industry has long remained dependent on imports of certain types of rare metals and rare-earth products. Given the sanctions, this dependence becomes a vulnerability; therefore, development of mining and processing of critical metals is a prerequisite for sustainability of technological processes. The industry’s development is impossible without skilled workforce. The analysis conducted allowed the authors to identify two main groups of challenges that contribute to the low efficiency of workforce provision: the first is related to recruitment and retention, while the second one concerns training and development. Both groups are interconnected in terms of candidates’ unrealistic expectations and subsequent professional deformation of their personalities. The authors propose using a comprehensive evaluation index to assess the impact of employee motivation on the production efficiency indicators. It is calculated as the weighted sum of 10 key components. The proposed index makes it possible to determine the level of motivation and make timely management decisions. The results of the study led the authors to conclude that overcoming the labor shortage is impossible without developing an employer value proposition that shifts the emphasis from physical endurance to the intellectual management of complex systems. This entails the widespread implementation of the behavioral safety audit methods, modular training in hybrid skills, and implementation of dual mentorship programs. The economic viability of such investments is evident as the losses caused by downtime of highperformance equipment due to staff incompetence significantly exceed the costs of educational technologies.