The European nuclear industry will have to “step up” its efforts to attract potential employees and expertise and compete with other industries if it is to realise “even a third” of the new build projects that have been pledged on the continent, according to Callum Thomas, chief executive of recruiting firm Thomas Thor Associates.

Mr Thomas told NucNet that the situation on the nuclear job market is “fairly stable”, but this is thanks largely to people who have reached retirement age and have remained employed in the sector in companies or as consultants.

“There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the nuclear workforce retiring, about the cliff edge effect”, he said, “but this has so far not happened, because many people choose to remain employed after retirement”.