When It Comes To The Energy Work Force, Things Are Tough All Over

Goeffrey Styles:

Two weeks ago I looked (5/25/07) at the risk that higher biofuels mandates would deter the expansion of US refineries. Today's Wall Street Journal examines another constraint on those expansions: an industry-wide shortage of experienced personnel, along with higher construction costs. This problem is another consequence of the extended "wilderness years" from which the sector has only recently emerged. Two decades of low margins and large investments to comply with expanding environmental regulations imposed cost pressures that forced refineries to run as leanly as possible. In the meantime, an entire generation found employment in other, flashier industries. Unfortunately for consumers, the bill is coming due now.

That sounds a lot like the situation the nuclear sector faces, as our work force continues to age, and we need to recruit more new workers into the employment pipeline. For more, click here.