The UK’s nuclear workforce has grown by approximately 7,000 people in the year ending April 2024, according to the newly released 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment (NWA).

The nuclear sector is increasingly becoming the career destination of choice for young talent. The 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment revealed a near doubling of under-20s in the workforce compared to 2023, with over 1,100 apprentices and graduates joining the sector last year.

Carried out by Cogent Skills, on behalf of the Nuclear Workforce Assessment Working Group members, the Nuclear Workforce Assessment is the single largest workforce analysis in the nuclear sector, covering both civil and defence. The latest findings have been launched to the public today.

The overall workforce numbers from the data show a growth in the workforce from 83,000 to 96,000, this growth can be attributed to the following factors:

• The sites reported on in both 2023 and 2024 have seen growth in 2024, most notably in defence nuclear, which accounts for 57% of the growth.
• Additional sites have come forward for data collection from within defence and civil; new sites account for 43%.

Andrew Jones, Head of Research at Cogent Skills, ‘The 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment represents a significant collaborative achievement spanning the civil and defence nuclear sectors in the UK.

‘What sets the NWA apart is its foundation in actual employer data rather than estimates. Through this direct data collection, we’ve established a clearer picture of our 96,000-strong workforce than ever before, with more organisations providing their workforce data for the assessment. The report reveals important changes in occupational structures, where our people are located across the UK, and the overall makeup of our workforce. These valuable findings help us address key challenges in building a diverse and sustainable nuclear sector for the future.’

The NWA is completed annually and supports workforce planning in the nuclear industry through forecasting skills supply and demand across key activities including new builds, operations, decommissioning, research and defence. The assessment underpins skills development efforts within the industry as part of the National Nuclear Strategic Plan for Skills (Nuclear Skills Plan).

To view the complete 2024 Nuclear Workforce Assessment, click here.