OAK RIDGE, Tenn. (WOKI / WVLT) – Federal officials, industry executives and educators gathered in Oak Ridge on Tuesday to address what they describe as one of the biggest challenges facing Tennessee’s rapidly growing nuclear industry: finding enough workers.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy James Danly joined Congressman Chuck Fleischmann and nuclear industry leaders at Oak Ridge Associated Universities’ “Next Steps for the Nuclear Workforce” summit. The event focused on findings from ORAU’s newly released East Tennessee Nuclear Workforce Demand Assessment.
The study found East Tennessee’s nuclear workforce currently includes approximately 17,000 workers, but demand is expected to grow to roughly 21,000 workers by 2032, creating a need for thousands of additional employees.
Skilled Trade Shortages Highlighted
According to the study, some positions face especially severe shortages.
The largest gap involves chemical plant and system operators. Researchers found employers will need more than 1,300 workers in those roles during peak demand, while Tennessee educational institutions currently produce only a small number of qualified graduates each year.
The report also identified anticipated shortages among:
- Nuclear reactor operators
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Pipefitters
- Structural iron workers
Construction activity tied to major nuclear projects is expected to increase significantly between 2029 and 2032, driving demand even higher.
Danly said the issue extends well beyond the nuclear industry.
“I’m not being glib when I say this. Name a skilled trade and we don’t have enough of them,” Danly said. “The scarcity is real.”
He added that shortages in skilled trades are affecting communities across the United States.
East Tennessee Emerges as Nuclear Hub
Officials pointed to Oak Ridge’s growing reputation as a center of nuclear innovation and development.
The ORAU study found more than $10 billion in private nuclear investments have been announced across East Tennessee during the past five years, including major projects such as Orano USA’s planned $5 billion uranium enrichment facility.
Danly credited the area’s concentration of expertise, including the University of Tennessee’s nationally recognized nuclear engineering program and decades of nuclear research in Oak Ridge.
“You need merely go down the street to Y-12 in Oak Ridge and you can’t throw a rock without hitting a nuclear engineer there,” Danly said.
Fleischmann said Tennessee’s success stems from collaboration among federal agencies, the Tennessee Valley Authority, universities and private industry.
“Right now, we have every piece of the puzzle here in Tennessee,” Fleischmann said.
Federal and State Investments Growing
Danly said the Department of Energy has already begun investing federal dollars into workforce development programs, including grants supporting nuclear safety and operations training at the University of Tennessee.
While he did not provide a specific funding total, Danly described workforce training as one of the department’s top priorities moving forward.
“There are certainly tens of millions, perhaps more,” Danly said.
Fleischmann noted Tennessee has also devoted significant resources to workforce development. He credited Gov. Bill Lee’s administration with establishing a $50 million fund supporting nuclear education and training programs at institutions including the University of Tennessee and Roane State Community College.
Economic Benefits Extend Beyond Oak Ridge
Officials emphasized that opportunities created by the industry’s expansion reach far beyond Oak Ridge.
Fleischmann said nuclear investments have generated economic benefits throughout East Tennessee, creating well-paying career opportunities for workers in both urban and rural communities.
Not all of the jobs require nuclear-specific training. ORAU President and CEO Meghan Millwood said growth in the industry is also increasing demand for professionals in accounting, human resources, business operations and other support fields.
“If you think about all these companies coming in, all of the support areas that have got to come alongside, there’s going to be opportunities in pretty much every area of need,” Millwood said.
ORAU plans to host another nuclear workforce summit in the spring as efforts continue to address the growing demand for skilled workers.
