Idaho Braces for Nuclear Industry Workforce Demands

As Utah ramps up nuclear energy, neighboring Idaho faces challenges in preparing the next generation of nuclear workers.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 4:37am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A highly structured abstract painting featuring sweeping geometric arcs, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals in earthy tones of green, brown, and blue, conceptually representing the complex forces and scale of the nuclear workforce challenge facing the Intermountain West region.As the nuclear industry experiences a resurgence, states in the Intermountain West grapple with the daunting task of building a workforce capable of meeting the sector's rapidly growing demand for skilled workers.Salt Lake City Today

As Utah takes steps to expand its nuclear energy capabilities, neighboring Idaho is grappling with how to build up the workforce needed to support the industry's growth. Idaho's Workforce Development Council is working to create new nuclear trades programs and associate's degrees, as well as initiatives to get students interested in STEM fields earlier, in an effort to meet the expected surge in demand for nuclear industry workers across the Intermountain West region.

Why it matters

The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of producing 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050, which would require an additional 184,000 workers in the nuclear industry, plus 250,000 more for construction. This looming workforce shortage is a major concern for states like Idaho and Utah that host nuclear research facilities and are poised to see significant nuclear industry growth in the coming decades.

The details

Idaho's Workforce Development Council is working closely with the Idaho National Lab and nuclear companies to understand their specific hiring needs and build the right training programs to meet that demand. This includes creating new nuclear trades programs and associate's degrees, as well as initiatives to spark student interest in STEM fields earlier in their academic careers. Similarly, Utah has announced plans to build a nuclear 'energy ecosystem' in Brigham City that will include a workforce training center. Both states are grappling with the challenge of preparing for a nuclear industry workforce boom amid declining birth rates and a shrinking pool of available workers.

  • The U.S. Department of Energy has set a goal of producing 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050.
  • In 2025, a workforce study commissioned by the Department of Energy projected the need for an additional 184,000 workers in the nuclear industry, plus 250,000 more for construction.

The players

Wendi Secrist

Executive director at the Idaho Workforce Development Council.

Spencer Cox

Governor of Utah, who has expressed concerns about the nuclear industry's recruiting challenges.

Idaho National Lab

A nuclear research facility located in Idaho that is working with the state to create new nuclear workforce training programs.

U.S. Department of Energy

The federal agency that has set a goal of producing 400 gigawatts of nuclear energy by 2050.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We need to start thinking about how are we going to build this, how many of those (184,000) jobs collectively should we be looking at being located here in the Intermountain West and preparing for.”

— Wendi Secrist, Executive director, Idaho Workforce Development Council

“The recruiting challenges experienced by the industry so far are 'terrifying.' He, however, remained hopeful about what the new openings would mean for communities in rural Utah and argued that incorporating work earlier into education may help ease that burden.”

— Spencer Cox, Governor of Utah

What’s next

The Idaho Workforce Development Council and Utah leaders will continue to work closely with nuclear companies to understand their specific hiring needs and build the right training programs to meet the expected surge in demand for nuclear industry workers across the Intermountain West region.

The takeaway

The 'nuclear renaissance' sweeping the U.S. is poised to create thousands of new jobs in the Intermountain West, but states like Idaho and Utah are facing the challenge of building up a workforce that can meet the industry's needs. Proactive efforts to create new nuclear-focused education and training programs, as well as initiatives to spark student interest in STEM fields, will be crucial to ensuring these states can capitalize on the growth of nuclear energy.