The Nuclear Industry Association has published its annual jobs map of the UK for 2021, that shows that employment has grown in the civil nuclear sector across the UK to over 61,000 people.
The South West remains an employment hotspot for the industry, with over 12,900 people employed in the region. This is bettered only by the North West on over 24,000. Bridgwater & West Somerset is unsurprisingly the centre of nuclear activity in the South West, thanks to the new build activity at Hinkley Point C which sees around 6300 people on site.
The numbers are in!
61,371 people work in the #nuclear industry, helping the UK reach #NetZero
BUT... investment is needed to ensure more #lowcarbon stations are built to ensure skills aren't lost.
Full story here: https://t.co/mJmY8KyyOx
Case studies: https://t.co/36I3apa7Qg pic.twitter.com/uG55JtVbBr— Nuclear Industry Association (@NIAUK) September 14, 2021
Elsewhere in the region, central Bristol, Filton and Gloucester are major hubs of nuclear jobs thanks to significant operational presence for both new build and decommissioning by EDF. The Jobs Map also notes that £3.2 billion has already spent across the region from the Hinkley Point C project, more than twice the initial target of £1.5 billion set at the project’s outset.
UK Nuclear Jobs Map 2021
Tom Greatrex, Chief Executive of the NIA, said:
“The nuclear industry stands alone in sustaining tens of thousands of high-skilled, well-paid jobs in zero emissions power across the country, making a significant contribution to the UK’s net zero future. We can have more of these jobs and these opportunities for the next generation of young people if we get a new financing model that will enable building new low carbon power stations. The Government’s ten point plan confirms building back greener means new nuclear as part of the net zero future.”
You can explore the interactive jobs map here, which breaks down the jobs by parliamentary constituency and company - niauk.org/resources/jobs-map-2021