Social benefit

The mining industry is a major employer today. In addition to direct employment, it creates a significant number of local jobs through the mining companies’ purchasing of services and materials. The resulting growth in economic activity generates yet more jobs in businesses that are not directly linked to the mines but are necessary for a vibrant community. One job in the mining industry creates 1.8 indirect jobs at the subcontractor level. Together, they in turn provide jobs in industries that are not directly linked to mines; grocery stores, restaurants, cultural and sports life, that are needed in vibrant communities.

The mining companies also pay large sums of tax both nationally and in the municipalities in which they operate. For example, LKAB, which is owned by the Swedish government, paid more than 6 billion SEK in national taxes in 2019. Mining, service, technology, and exploration companies form what we usually call the Swedish mining cluster. The cumulative tax revenue from Sweden’s whole mining cluster in 2019 can be converted, for example, to finance more than 7,700 police officers or education for about 37,600 elementary school students.

In other words, the mining industry keeps Sweden alive—both at the local level and by contributing to the entire country’s standard of living.