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Securing the Fusion Workforce for the Future: The Talent Race to Power the Next Energy Revolution

As of 2023, the fusion sector employed just 2,400 people worldwide, with nearly 40% of them holding PhDs. That’s a small workforce for an industry with massive ambitions. So, how are leading fusion organisations tackling the skills gap, attracting top talent, and preparing for the transition from research to commercial power plants? Let’s explore the key trends shaping the future of fusion energy’s workforce. The Fusion Skills Gap: Who’s Needed Now and in the Future? The fusion industry has long been dominated by research-driven roles, requiring advanced qualifications. Today, 75% of fusion workers are scientists or engineers, and 38% hold PhDs. But as fusion moves from the lab to the real world, the talent pool must evolve. Over the next 10 - 15 years, the demand for PhDs will decline, while the need for hands-on engineers, project managers, and technicians will surge. Fusion companies will need more skilled tradespeople to tackle large-scale engineering challenges - not just plasma physicists. By 2040, as commercial power plants come online, fusion firms will be competing with other industries for technicians, electricians, and manufacturing specialists. In-demand skills include: Electrical and mechanical engineering Cryogenics and superconducting magnet design Materials science and neutron shielding Robotics and advanced manufacturing AI, data science, and real-time plasma control For example, Commonwealth Fusion Systems, General Fusion, and Tokamak Energy are all hiring specialists in power electronics, AI-driven plasma control, and high-temperature superconductors - fields that didn’t traditionally overlap with nuclear physics but are now critical. Recruiting the Fusion Workforce: How Companies Are Attracting Talent With a limited talent pool, fusion companies are getting creative in their recruitment strategies: Partnering with Universities: Firms are collaborating with universities to build a steady talent pipeline. Commonwealth Fusion Systems recruits heavily from MIT, while Tokamak Energy sponsors professorships and fusion engineering courses. The UK government has invested £56 million in fusion skills development, funding new doctoral and apprenticeship programmes. Hiring from Adjacent Industries: Fusion firms are bringing in experts from aerospace, automotive, and nuclear fission, where skills in materials science, cryogenics, and project management are transferable. Tokamak Energy’s CEO, for example, came from Rolls-Royce, applying aerospace engineering expertise to fusion. Selling the Mission: Companies are positioning fusion as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to revolutionise clean energy. Commonwealth Fusion promotes its work as “more than a job - it’s a mission.” To combat skepticism about fusion always being “30 years away,” firms highlight rapid advancements, such as net energy gain experiments, to show that the future is now. Visualising Fusion Workforce Growth Fusion workforce expansion is likely to start slowly but accelerate steeply in the 2030s. Historically, it has taken around 20 years for new energy technologies to reach a significant share of power generation. Fusion may follow suit, with the first commercial plants in the 2030s and widespread adoption by the 2050s. If this timeline holds, the 2040s could see an intensive period of workforce expansion as fusion moves into the mainstream. The industry is already laying the groundwork by establishing training programmes, attracting diverse talent, and forming policies. These efforts are essential to ensuring that when the fusion revolution arrives, the right people will be in place to power it. The Future of the Fusion Workforce Securing and developing talent may be as critical to fusion’s success as solving the physics. Globally, fusion leaders are addressing skills shortages through partnerships and outreach, striving to retain and inspire their workforce, and working to diversify their teams. They are urging regulators and educators to help remove barriers and create clear pathways into fusion careers. The coming years will test the industry’s ability not only to build reactors but to build the human capacity needed to run them. If current initiatives succeed, the fusion sector’s next generation will be larger, more skilled, and more diverse - ready to deliver on the long-promised potential of fusion energy. If you want to find out more about how Rullion can help you attract talent that will have a positive impact on your organisation, get in touch with: Nicola Rogers, Solutions Directornicola.rogers@rullion.co.uk