The “big crunch” being faced by the nuclear energy industry as it prepares for the deployment and operation of new reactors is for skilled workers to fill positions in licensing, safety analysis and specialist engineering areas, as well as project and construction management where there is “a huge shortage of people”, a specialist in nuclear recruitment told NucNet.

Callum Thomas, founder and chief executive officer of Thomas Thor, said he sees the late 2020s as the point when the demand for new workforce in the nuclear power industry is going to be much greater.

He also warned that a complete overhaul of hiring strategy and ethics is needed in a bid to find “fair work opportunities” after the traditional retirement age.

Thomas said the need for new workers is due to large-scale new build, plant life extensions and the realisation of small modular reactor projects.