Nuclear industry to add 10,000 jobs in future

Almost 10,000 new jobs will emerge in the nuclear field in the coming decade, but many of the workers destined to fill them are still in middle or high school, according to a new study commissioned by an economic development group.

"These are not today's jobs, or current jobs, or even the economic stimulus jobs everybody's talking about," said David Jameson, the chairman-elect of the SRS Community Reuse Organization, which hired the Booz Allen Hamilton consulting group to conduct the study.

Consultants spent four months evaluating data provided by the region's eight dominant nuclear companies in a first-of-its-kind effort to gauge job needs for the unfolding resurgence of nuclear facilities in the area.

The conclusions, unveiled Thursday during a meeting at Aiken Technical College, indicate Augusta-area firms will need at least 1,320 new engineers by 2014 and 924 more by 2020. If you add in new slots for technicians, professionals and craft workers, the jobs total almost 10,000.

The findings will be used to help area education systems tweak their programs to help stimulate interest in nuclear careers, said Susan Winsor, chairwoman of the Community Reuse Organization nuclear work force task force.

The success of the area's nuclear future, she said, is threatened by a significant shortage of trained, qualified workers to replace an aging, retiring work force that has not adequately regenerated itself since nuclear construction activity waned in the 1980s.

Neil Midkiff, who coordinated the study, said national figures show that the average age of today's nuclear worker is over 50 and that just 8 percent are 32 or younger.

As the nation's anticipated nuclear renaissance unfolds, more commercial and defense facilities will be needed, he said, noting that Southern Nuclear's Plant Vogtle plans to add two new reactors, as does Scana's V.C. Summer plant in South Carolina. Savannah River Site activities include the $4.8 billion mixed-oxide fuel facility and other pending projects that will require skilled nuclear workers.

Dr. Winsor said the study's findings will be used in a series of stakeholder meetings with educators and nuclear companies to determine the best way to tailor local education programs to help today's middle and high school students prepare themselves for the jobs that are expected to materialize.

"The whole effort here is to make sure our kids here have a shot at these jobs," Mr. Jameson said.

The companies surveyed for the study are Southern Nuclear, Scana, Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, the Department of Energy, Parsons, Savannah River Remediation, Shaw Areva and Shaw Construction.

Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119, or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.