The efficiency of the coal industry based on the factor of labor productivity growth

Relevance. Insufficiently high labor productivity at coal mining enterprises actualizes a study to increase the efficiency of their activities based on the factor of productivity growth. Purpose – substantiation of a possible increase in labor productivity with a change in the ratio of open and underground mining methods. Methodology – analysis of changes in labor intensity with various options for the share of open and underground development methods, as well as assuming an increase in production. Results. Issues of effective production and economic activity of coal industry enterprises are considered taking into account the factor of increasing labor productivity of workers. For the efficient functioning of coal mining enterprises, certain correlations should be fulfilled between the rates of change in the volume of coal production, labor productivity and the cost of coal production. Changes in coal production can be achieved mainly by the ratio of underground and open-cast mining. An approach to determining the level of labor intensity of work in the coal industry with a change in the ratio of underground and open coal mining methods is proposed; with a corresponding increase in labor productivity, the unit cost of production in the planning period is determined. The factors of growth of labor productivity in the coal industry are given: an increase in the utilization rate of combines for sewage treatment and bucket excavators for opencast mines; progressive changes in the design and operational characteristics of the main coal mining equipment; the use of imported equipment only in economically feasible mining conditions; the possibility of growth of stimulating factors to ensure the corresponding labor productivity of coal mining workers; increase in the share of coal from mines and opencasts with low cost of coal mining. Conclusions. The approach developed by the authors to determine the level of reduction in the labor intensity of work in the coal industry can be used in conditions of changing the ratio of open and underground mining methods, and accordingly, the change in the cost of production of one ton of coal as a whole for the joint-stock company can be forecasted.