Emerging Employment Trends in the Nuclear Power Industry
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uclear power is the second largest source of clean energy. In the U.S., nuclear electric power generation accounts for approximately 20 percent of the nation’s electrical production. As of March 2019, the U.S. had 60 commercial nuclear
power plants. These power plants housed 98 operating reactors. Despite being clean energy and having many commercial plants, between 2009 and 2019, employment in
By RICHARD WORKS
Background According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s North American Industry Classification System, the U.S. industry of Nuclear Electric Power Generation comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating nuclear electric power generation facilities. These facilities use nuclear power to produce electric energy. The electric energy produced in these establishments is provided to electric power transmission systems or to electric power distribution systems. The largest nuclear power plant in the United States is the Palo Verde Generating Station near Tonopah, Arizona.
the nuclear electric power generation declined 23 percent from 53,080 employees to 40,786 employees.
Employment in this industry was projected to decline 36.8 percent between 2019 and 2029. This would be a loss of 15,599 jobs over the next decade. The decline over the years has been primarily due to the decommissioning of nuclear power plants. The decommissioning has been expected to continue as technology is now available to demolish nuclear reactors at a faster pace than what was possible in decades past. But, is there anything that can be done to save this seemingly dying industry? 36
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Nuclear power generation has been very expensive when compared to more competitive energy, such as wind and solar power. As of June 2019, some 20 reactors at 15 power plants across the country had plans for decommissioning. According to the Energy Information Administration, six reactors have been shut down since 2013 and eight more announced to retire by 2025. A report from Deloitte stated that the United States, France, Japan, and Russia will face a dramatic decline in the nuclear industry by 2040 when a total of 253 nuclear facilities from these countries will enter the decommissioning phase.