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Source: ETEC's Nuclear Working Group in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. (2023).

Map: Nuclear Workforce - Nuclear Is Here

Unveiled at ETEC's NOW 2023 Conference, this 20' x 7' graphic display was created to show the nuclear workforce in the State of Tennessee. Through our Nuclear Working Group, ETEC brought together leaders from industry, government contractors, universities, and economic development organizations to begin defining our nuclear workforce. This “Nuclear Is Here” illustration captures their input, linkages among sectors, and gaps to be addressed.

This is a work in progress, and we invite your input. If you have thoughts, workforce needs, opportunities, or examples of what your organization is doing in this area, please send us an email.

Tennessee Workforce Partners

Download the Nuclear Workforce fact sheet.

*Fun Fact: Roane State Community College will have the first of its kind NUCLEAR Middle College in the Fall of 2025!*

EDUCATION/TRAINING

GOVERNMENT

INSTITUTIONS/ORGANIZATIONS

COMMUNITY

OAK RIDGE AREA MUSEUMS

East Tennessee Nuclear Workforce Demand Assessment

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) has released the East Tennessee Nuclear Workforce Demand Assessment, projecting growth in the nuclear workforce among surveyed companies from approximately 17,000 workers today to 21,000 by 2032. The study, based on interviews with 14 companies involved in the region’s nuclear expansion, identifies potential workforce shortages in several technical and operations-related occupations and emphasizes the need to expand training capacity and strengthen partnerships among industry, education, and workforce organizations.

Michelle Goodson, Director of the ORAU STEM Accelerator and Co-Chair of the TN² Workforce Committee and partners at Deloitte presented preliminary findings at the 2026 Nuclear Opportunities Workshop (NOW).

Read the full study: East Tennessee Nuclear Workforce Demand Assessment | View: NOW Presentation Slides

Academic Roadmap

Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), in partnership with several leading nuclear industry organizations, has launched a strategic initiative to address the workforce challenges and education gaps faced by the nuclear energy industry.

The Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap (NEAR) aims to enhance career awareness, support pipeline development, identify financial resources, and optimize academic programs at the K-12, vocational and technical school, and university levels.

NEAR was released during a meeting of the ORAU Partnership for Nuclear Energy (PNE) and the Nuclear Energy Academic Alliance (NEAA) on Monday, Jan. 27, 2025. Click to download the Nuclear Energy Academic Roadmap Synopsis (.PDF, 745 KB). Read the press release here.

Learn more about ORAU's Partnerships for Nuclear Energy here.

National Resources for Curriculum Building

5 Workforce Trends in Nuclear Energy by U.S. DOE - August 28, 2024
Clean energy is booming, according to the 2024 U.S. Energy & Employment Report. Here are five ways nuclear energy was part of that trend.

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