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Nuclear Industry's Comprehensive Approach Develops Skilled Work Force for the Future
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Assessments Reveal Progress in Hiring
In 2007, NEI undertook another in its series of work force assessments. Working to identify the growing generational gap among nuclear energy industry workers, the surveys have monitored trends in industry work force demographics and helped project the personnel needs of electric utilities, contractors and vendors that supply equipment and services to the industry.
The 2007 survey shows encouraging signs that the industry’s recruitment effort is having some notable success. For instance, the report found a 34 percent increase in the number of young engineers 18 to 27 years of age working in the utility work force from 2005 to 2007.
During the same period, operations personnel 18 to 27 years of age increased 33 percent, while the young professionals employed in the vendor work force rose 58 percent.
Besides NEI surveys, the industry uses several secondary sources of data to assess work force trends that may affect the nuclear energy sector.
Examples include the 2007 utility staffing survey conducted by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) and the Southeast Manpower Tripartite Alliance’s industrial construction labor assessment. The report assessed the demographics of the broad utility industry. This survey examined four key career areas: operators, maintenance staff, linemen and plumbers/pipe fitters. The survey indicated that the electric utility industry could face significant retirements of employees in each of these fields over the next five years.
Assessments Reveal Progress in Hiring
In 2007, NEI undertook another in its series of work force assessments. Working to identify the growing generational gap among nuclear energy industry workers, the surveys have monitored trends in industry work force demographics and helped project the personnel needs of electric utilities, contractors and vendors that supply equipment and services to the industry.
The 2007 survey shows encouraging signs that the industry’s recruitment effort is having some notable success. For instance, the report found a 34 percent increase in the number of young engineers 18 to 27 years of age working in the utility work force from 2005 to 2007.
During the same period, operations personnel 18 to 27 years of age increased 33 percent, while the young professionals employed in the vendor work force rose 58 percent.
Besides NEI surveys, the industry uses several secondary sources of data to assess work force trends that may affect the nuclear energy sector.
Examples include the 2007 utility staffing survey conducted by the Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) and the Southeast Manpower Tripartite Alliance’s industrial construction labor assessment. The report assessed the demographics of the broad utility industry. This survey examined four key career areas: operators, maintenance staff, linemen and plumbers/pipe fitters. The survey indicated that the electric utility industry could face significant retirements of employees in each of these fields over the next five years.