The aging workforce: targetting youth, community and employee retention.(news)

In this third installment of a four-past series, IBM Consulting Services focuses on bringing a new generation into the workforce and grooming them for successful long-term careers in the industry.

Nuclear plant external communications experts are finding that community relations programs that have long been in place can, with the right emphasis, be used to start building interest in a nuclear career among young people even as early as fourth or fifth grade.

While some might ask if this is too early, Chris Comfort, president of the North American Young Generation in Nuclear (NA-YGN), an organization of nuclear professionals age 35 and under, believes it's the right time to introduce the idea.

"That age group doesn't have the pro-or anti-decision in their head yet, and you can really explain some things; you'd be surprised at what kind of questions they ask. They're going back home and talking to their parents about it-they really are interested," he said.

To take advantage of this existing resource, nuclear utilities have stepped up their influence on the classrooms themselves in order to ensure a population of motivated and well-educated young men and …