Supply and demand: industry strives to replace aging work force: as the anticipated date nears for hiring construction workers to build two proposed nuclear reactors in South Carolina, technical colleges and industry partners are working together to help train the next-generation construction work force.

Two years ago, officials from The Shaw Group of Charlotte and Midlands Technical College in Columbia met to discuss workforce needs and how to fill them.

The Shaw Group has been contracted by SCE&G, a subsidiary of SCANA, to build two new nuclear reactors at the V.C. Summer Nuclear Station in Jenkinsville, S.C.The Shaw Group anticipates that during the construction phase, the company may need up to 4,000 workers, including pipefitters, welders, electricians, plumbers and more.

"We met with the folks at Shaw so they could understand what programs we have in place and so we could understand what we needed to create to suit their needs," said Barrie Kirk, vice president of Corporate and Continuing Education and Economic Development at Midlands Technical College.

"We have since tweaked and expanded our welding program and added a total of 24 welding booths. We have customized an electrician apprenticeship program just for them. We also have a pipefitter program that we put in place at their request," Kirk said. In addition, Midlands Tech worked with Fairfield County to open a Quick Jobs training center in Winnsboro and several programs housed there are a direct result of Shaw's needs.

"That's how we always respond to new and expanding industries. Our name says 'technical college,' but it's all about what the community needs us to be," Kirk said.

The reality is that the U.S. nuclear industry will need thousands of workers to replace retirees and to build and operate new power plants.

"As an example, one skill set for us that is very important and one we need to keep a close eye on is welders," said Jeffrey Merrifield, Shaw senior vice president. "When we look demographically, we find that a number of skilled welders are in their 50s and 60s and reaching the later stages of their career."

Partnerships between Shaw and Midlands Tech, as well as Florence-Darlington Technical College, York Technical College and others, are helping to train the next-generation construction workforce.

One main attraction to the industry is simply that jobs are needed in a state that is battling a high unemployment rate. Also, these jobs are well-paying jobs, as nuclear plants pay an average of 35% higher wages than area than average salaries, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Training programs for the skills needed to build the nuclear plants range from 16 to 20 weeks and result in a certification for additional training.

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