As we work to make America’s electrical grid more sustainable and clean, the sectors responsible for producing that carbon-free power are working to diversify their workforces to position them for the future.
Taking on this issue is not an easy task. An April 2019 Brookings Institution report found that while clean energy workers earn higher wages than the national average, “the clean energy economy is older, dominated by male workers and lacks racial diversity when compared to all occupations nationally.”
In response, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) launched SEIA’s #DiversityChallenge today, which aims to spark conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion across the energy sector.
NEI President and CEO Maria Korsnick praised SEIA President and CEO Abigail Ross Hopper’s work in encouraging energy companies to pursue more diverse and inclusive workforces. On behalf of NEI, Korsnick will sign the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, joining the CEOs of 600 major companies, including NEI members such as Dominion, Duke Energy, Exelon, First Energy, PSEG, Southern and Xcel, to raise awareness about issues relating to diversity and inclusion. NEI has pledged to keep advancing initiatives aimed at these goals with their respective member companies in the nuclear and solar industries.
Nuclear Promotes Diversity and Inclusion
While the nuclear energy sector may have new allies in its pursuit of greater diversity, the industry has been taking aim at this issue for decades. Here’s how nuclear energy has been promoting an inclusive workplace, in both new and ongoing ways:
- Twenty years ago, several female NEI employees led the creation of U.S. Women In Nuclear (WIN), which supports and encourages women working in nuclear energy. Today WIN has thousands of members at 70 chapters across the country. WIN also has programs to mentor women as they progress through their careers, since companies have found that retaining high-performing employees can be as difficult as recruiting them. This year, a 12-month leadership program kicks off to prepare women for executive level positions within the nuclear industry.
- Creating an inclusive environment can go beyond the job site and extend into policy. A new group Gender Champions in Nuclear Policy aims for greater equality and inclusiveness in policy circles—one of its first priorities is eliminating single-gender panels at the myriad conferences on these topics.
- Volunteers from North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NAYGN), comprising young people in the nuclear sector, seek to attract a more diverse workforce by speaking at universities and community events about opportunities for careers in nuclear energy.
A Strong Workforce Strengthens the Nuclear Industry
Having more diversity is about more than good intentions, it has been shown to encourage better decision-making and business results. Consulting group McKinsey & Co. found that companies with more racial and gender diversity were more likely to produce above average financial results.
While the competition for top talent in engineering and technical fields can be fierce among competing energy sectors, nuclear energy organizations are redoubling efforts to make the industry more inclusive so that it can build a more diverse workforce.
Recognizing that an inclusive workplace helps workers respond to life transitions, NEI has launched one of the first-of-its-kind universal leave programs where employees can take paid time off to care for a new child or sick relative. Programs such as universal leave ease the burden on employees in life-changing situations and make organizations that offer them more attractive to new hires.
With leaders voicing their strong support at the launch event, the SEIA #DiversityChallenge is already off to strong start, laying the groundwork for attracting the builders of America’s clean energy future.
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