The reactivation of nuclear energy in France is beginning to be reflected in the sector’s employment curve, which confirmed on Tuesday its labor needs to build new reactors in France and expand existing ones. If in 2023 the sector estimated that it would represent 220,000 jobs, it now estimates “around 250,000 jobs,” said Xavier Ursat, president of Gifen, which brings together industrialists in the sector, during a press conference.
Although the figure of 220,000 was a bit outdated, slightly distorting the comparison, Xavier Ursat assures that the number of jobs has increased “by ten percent”, thanks to the executive’s decision to reactivate nuclear energy, in particular through the construction of six new EPR2 reactors.
“The purchasing forecasts of the owners of national projects (…) show an increase of almost 30% in the next five years” compared to today, also indicates Gifen, who has launched a program, called Match, to guarantee the adequacy between capabilities and needs. It foresees “load peaks in 2026 and then around 2032”, which illustrates in particular the power increase of the EPR2 program.
Formworkers and designers
Regarding the expected hiring needs, Gifen confirms the rate of “100,000 new full-time equivalents for the entire sector” for the next ten years, half of which to replace retirements and the other half to respond to growth in activity.
“Maintenance technicians, formworkers or designers are professions that we have identified as having strong needs” for the coming years, indicated Olivier Bard, general delegate of Gifen, according to which “technicians represent two thirds of these hires.” But the profiles sought range from CAP to engineer. Despite the political situation, “in general we have this visibility” necessary for a long-term industry, said Xavier Ursat.
Proof of the growing attractiveness of the atom, according to Gifen, the World Nuclear Exhibition, a show organized every two years in Paris with “all actors in the civil nuclear sector”, is “gaining strength”, according to its president, Sylvie Bermann. From November 4 to 6, it will bring together 1,000 exhibitors compared to the 780 of the previous edition and 24 national pavilions compared to 18, including India and Ukraine, newcomers.
Source: BFM TV
