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Wednesday, 14 May 2025

With global nuclear employment projected to rise significantly by 2050, the International Atomic Energy Agency forecasts that the industry will require over to support the anticipated expansion in nuclear capacity. Yet, within workforce planning meetings, a familiar refrain echoes: "We just can't find the people."

It's time to challenge the scarcity narrative. Nuclear isn't short of talent; it's short of imagination in how it attracts, trains, and supports the workforce of the future.

An overemphasis on shortages leads to risk-averse hiring, recycled candidates, and constrained thinking. In reality, the figures tell a different story:

• Job search activity on Rullion.co.uk demonstrates strong nuclear sector interest, with the 'Nuclear' job filter applied over 1060 times between January and April 2025. The next closest category, 'Energy', recorded only 214 uses in the same period.

• The five most popular nuclear roles by job advert visits and applications on Rullion.co.uk between January and April 2025 were Decommissioning Team Lead, Senior Safety Case Engineer, Nuclear Safety Case Developer, and Principal Nuclear Integration Engineer.

This platform data shows nuclear is not a sector people are avoiding - it's actually the most actively sought-after industry among specialist candidates and with the right outreach and candidate experience, the nuclear sector can capture this enthusiasm and secure the skills it needs for the future.

This growing appetite for nuclear careers is also reflected in broader workforce trends across key global markets.

• In the UK, nuclear employment has surged - both direct and via suppliers and sub-contractors. The South West's workforce tripled from 8500 in 2014 to over 27,000 today, largely driven by projects like Hinkley Point C.

• France's nuclear sector employs approximately 220,000 people across 3000 companies, making it the country's third-largest industrial sector.

• In the USA, the nuclear sector employed 68,008 workers in 2023, an increase of more than 1800 jobs from the previous year.

These figures are not signs of scarcity. They are signs of momentum, and of abundance. 

Candidate experience: A make-or-break factor
 

Delays, limited information, and disjointed communication create barriers to entry for skilled professionals. Candidate experience in the nuclear sector remains inconsistent.

At its worst, candidates face six-month hiring timelines. Yet organisations embracing streamlined recruitment processes are filling most roles within a month, attracting the best talent by moving quickly and decisively.

An outstanding candidate experience is non-negotiable if the nuclear sector is to secure the workforce it needs. Streamlined processes and genuine engagement with candidates are what set leading employers apart. 

Embracing an abundance mindset to hiring demands a broader view of transferable skills. Industries like oil and gas, aerospace, chemicals, and defence have significant skills overlap with nuclear; but are often overlooked in preference for candidates who are 'nuclear purists'. Research from Robert Gordon University suggests over 90% of the UK's oil and gas workforce have medium to high transferability into sectors like nuclear.

Rather than waiting for candidates with ready-made nuclear experience, employers should invest in training programmes, apprenticeships, and fast-track schemes that "nuclearise" professionals from other fields.

Nuclear offers a compelling proposition for young people passionate about climate action and energy innovation. Yet the sector often struggles to engage this audience effectively. A better understanding of early career expectations, including purpose-driven work, clear career progression, and modern communication methods will unlock a new generation of talent.

Closing the gap
 

The future of nuclear energy hinges on its ability to attract, retain, and inspire people. Taking the UK as an example, with the nuclear workforce growing to 96,000 and a projected need for 120,000 by 2030, the sector faces a requirement for approximately 24,000 additional skilled personnel over the next six years.

The sector must invest in future talent now through better experiences, broader hiring strategies, and a bold vision for what working in nuclear can be. The sector must stop asking 'where is the talent?' and start asking 'how can we be the industry of choice'?

James Chamberlain is Nuclear, Utilities and Energy Practice Director at Rullion, a family-owned UK workforce solutions provider.