Resurgence in Nuclear Energy May Spur Job Growth
A new white paper finds that altogether, 12,000 to 21,000 new jobs will be added to the U.S. market if some 30 nuclear reactors currently planned for construction are built.
A new white paper finds that altogether, 12,000 to 21,000 new jobs will be added to the U.S. market if some 30 nuclear reactors currently planned for construction are built.
The white paper, Job Creation in the Nuclear Renaissance by the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition, found that new nuclear plants will also drive the demand for skilled craft labor focused on three areas — construction, operation and maintenance. As many as 185,000 new construction workers will be needed in the nuclear energy industry by 2015 for new positions and to replace approximately 95,000 retiring workers.
Some of the findings in the white paper include:
- Each nuclear plant provides 400 to 700 high-paying jobs.
- Depending on construction methods, each new reactor could require as many as 4,000 workers per project at peak periods.
- According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the median annual salary for nuclear engineers is $82,900 — approximately $8,000 more than all other engineering disciplines except petroleum engineering.
- Each of the country's 104 reactors generates an estimated $430 million a year in total output for the local community, and nearly $40 million per year in total labor income.
Related Topics:
