Key Issues
Nuclear Industry's Comprehensive Approach Develops Skilled Work Force for the Future
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Expanding the Potential Nuclear Work Force
The future nuclear work force will reflect the changing demographics among the qualified pool of applicants. To expand the work force, the industry has developed new partnerships to address challenges through various programs aimed at improving career awareness and outreach; recruitment, training and preparation; and retention of employees and their knowledge.
A centerpiece of these partnerships is CEWD. Formed in 2006, CEWD is a joint effort of NEI, the American Gas Association, Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The organization pursues partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders to create national models and collect and share good practices in work force development across the utility industry.
The industry also works to maintain broad support from local communities, labor organizations and educational institutions. NEI teams with stakeholders who understand the importance of work force issues, including organized labor, universities and community colleges, and government agencies.
Together, these groups work through schools, employers and nontraditional allies to reach current and future workers. They also explore institutional changes that will be required to achieve long-term success.
Public Policy Activities Aid Work Force Development
The industry has developed a public policy environment that is favorable to addressing the industry's work force needs and implementing programs to develop the future nuclear work force. The approaches include:
Nuclear industry involvement in public policy on the nuclear work force stems from activity to ensure that there is a sufficient training infrastructure available. Initial efforts focused on bringing nuclear engineering and health physics talent to the industry, government and research community through college and university programs. These efforts now have expanded to career technical schools and community colleges.
Expanding the Potential Nuclear Work Force
The future nuclear work force will reflect the changing demographics among the qualified pool of applicants. To expand the work force, the industry has developed new partnerships to address challenges through various programs aimed at improving career awareness and outreach; recruitment, training and preparation; and retention of employees and their knowledge.
A centerpiece of these partnerships is CEWD. Formed in 2006, CEWD is a joint effort of NEI, the American Gas Association, Edison Electric Institute and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. The organization pursues partnerships with educational institutions and other stakeholders to create national models and collect and share good practices in work force development across the utility industry.
The industry also works to maintain broad support from local communities, labor organizations and educational institutions. NEI teams with stakeholders who understand the importance of work force issues, including organized labor, universities and community colleges, and government agencies.
Together, these groups work through schools, employers and nontraditional allies to reach current and future workers. They also explore institutional changes that will be required to achieve long-term success.
Public Policy Activities Aid Work Force Development
The industry has developed a public policy environment that is favorable to addressing the industry's work force needs and implementing programs to develop the future nuclear work force. The approaches include:
- informing leaders and policymakers of job opportunities available in the energy sector, particularly in the nuclear industry
- raising policymakers’ awareness of particular challenges the industry faces
- developing recommendations for policies and programs that can effectively address the challenges
- nurturing alliances to create a constructive dialogue with leaders and policymakers.
Nuclear industry involvement in public policy on the nuclear work force stems from activity to ensure that there is a sufficient training infrastructure available. Initial efforts focused on bringing nuclear engineering and health physics talent to the industry, government and research community through college and university programs. These efforts now have expanded to career technical schools and community colleges.
