Shares of U.S. nuclear companies hit record highs last week after several tech giants announced purchase deals with advanced nuclear companies to power AI data centers with future nuclear reactors. rise, highlighting the need for workforce growth in locations like Oak Ridge.
The Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce will host a job fair with a major nuclear power company on October 24th. Some of these companies have long been based in the Atomic City, while others are focused on moving there.
For companies like Kairos Power and X Energy, which are already working on large-scale projects in Oak Ridge, the fair from 4 to 7:30 p.m., held in the Goff Building at Roane State Community College, will benefit from an established employee base. This is an opportunity to expand.
“I think the main misconception is that you need a Ph.D. to get into the nuclear field, and that’s not the case,” said Kristin Michaels, president and CEO of the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce. told Knox News. “For example, anyone can participate, from high school students looking to enter that career field to adults of all ages looking to find or change careers.”
According to a study released earlier this year, the nuclear industry provides Tennessee with an annual economic impact of $9.8 billion. Across five Southeastern states, including Tennessee, the industry supports 152,598 jobs with an average wage of $89,972. This is 65.5% higher than the average wage for the entire region.
Oak Ridge has been an important industrial hub since the Manhattan Project, and together with Knoxville is home to 154 nuclear power companies. The issue is likely to become even more important after France’s state-run nuclear fuel company, Orano, announced in September that it would make the largest investment in Tennessee’s history to build a uranium enrichment facility in Oak Ridge by the early 2030s.
Oak Ridge Nuclear Job Fair is open to everyone
This first annual Nuclear Science Week job fair is free and open to the public.
Olano will be joining representatives from Bechtel, Centrus Energy, Kairos, Tennessee Valley Authority, fusion startup Type One Energy, and X Energy’s fuel subsidiary TRISO-X at the job fair. Other employers include Oak Ridge National Laboratory, United Cleanup Oak Ridge, and Consolidated Nuclear Security, which manages the Y-12 National Security Complex.
The nuclear industry employs workers with a variety of skills and education levels, including electricians, welders, chemists, radiologists, and plant operators.
Education efforts for Tennessee’s growing nuclear workforce are led by Roane State Community College, Pellissippi State Community College, Tennessee University of Applied Technology, Tennessee Technological University, and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Representatives from each institution will be available to provide information to participants interested in pursuing a career in the nuclear field and take tours of Roane State University’s laboratories.
“This is a great opportunity for people who are interested in nuclear development but don’t know exactly how to proceed,” Michaels said.
Interested in attending the Oak Ridge Nuclear Care Fair?
Roane State University’s Goff Building is located at 701 Briarcliff Avenue in Oak Ridge. The job fair will be held from 4 to 7:30 p.m. and will include many of the major nuclear companies operating in Tennessee.
Those planning to attend the free job fair are encouraged to register at www.oakridgechamber.org/NuclearScienceWeek. The link also includes a list of events scheduled for Nuclear Science Week.
Daniel Dassault is a growth and development reporter focused on technology and energy. Phone number 423-637-0878. Email daniel.dassow@knoxnews.com.
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