The eyes of a nation remain focused on Tennessee for the future of nuclear energy production and workforce development. With a profound history dating back to the 1940s, Tennessee is seeing a resurgence in this critical sector, which currently employs more than 40,000 workers. The College System is at the forefront of developing the nuclear workforce to meet these needs. Community colleges and TCATs have leveraged funding and in-kind support from industry leaders, including Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Tennessee Valley Authority, Y-12 National Security Complex and others, to establish new nuclear programs. These initiatives are designed to scale quickly as demand grows, ensuring Tennessee has the skilled workforce needed to sustain its leadership in nuclear energy.
The System’s community colleges offer programming with direct entry into the nuclear workforce, including:
- Nuclear Power Engineering – Chattanooga State Community College
- Chemical Radiation Technology – Pellissippi State Community College
- Nuclear Technology – Roane State Community College
Technical colleges also provide expedited nuclear-related training pathways for both high school and adult learners seeking high-paying, stable careers. These include:
- Building Construction
- Electrical Maintenance
- HVAC
- Machine Tool Technology
- Plumbing
- Trucking
- Welding
All of these programs support Tennessee’s existing and expanding nuclear supply chain throughout the state. These are high-wage careers with job stability and national demand.
If you are an industry leader looking for more information about workforce development opportunities at our community and technical colleges, or have internship or job opportunities for recent graduates, please contact East TN Workforce Talent Strategist:
William Watson
william.watson@tbr.edu
615-326-5730
Resources
State of the Workforce – TBR Nuclear (Video)
In this episode, we take a deep dive into Tennessee’s growing nuclear energy industry with the Tennessee Board of Regents. We’re joined by Chancellor Flora Tydings and Teresa Duncan, TBR’s Nuclear Workforce Lead Strategist, as they discuss how Tennessee continues to lead the nation in nuclear innovation and workforce development.
The Vision of Fission - Nuclear Careers in Tennessee (Podcast)
TennTalks from the Ayers Foundation Trust
In this episode of TennTalks, we're diving deep into the "Nuclear Renaissance," a massive economic and technological shift that is positioning Tennessee as a world leader in clean energy.