Homer Simpson’s job, nuclear power technician, is hot again, reports the New York Times. A two-year degree as a nuclear tech qualifies a young worker to start at more than $50,000 as an apprentice and work up to $80,000, reports the New York Times. (That’s how Homer can afford his doughnut habit.)
Recognizing the looming skills shortage, the (Nuclear Energy Institute) has worked with utilities and colleges to set up 52 partnerships with community colleges across the country to train nuclear technicians.
As 26 new reactors move through the approval process, many veteran nuclear workers get closer to retirement. If approved, the new plants will “require a fresh crop of workers with some computer-age skills, as plant operating controls move from the analog realm of levers and switches to the digital world of point-and-click computing and 3-D graphics,” the Times reports.
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at 1:58 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by JoanneLeeJacobs, Joanne Jacobs. Joanne Jacobs said: New post: Homer Simpson's job is hot again. http://bit.ly/colm18 [...]
at 3:19 pm
[...] colleges are training young workers to fill Homer Simpson’s job, nuclear technician. Read all about it on Community College [...]
at 8:09 pm
“a fresh crop of workers with some computer-age skills, as plant operating controls move from the analog realm of levers and switches to the digital world of point-and-click computing and 3-D graphics”…oh, good grief. There’s no special “computer-age skill” required to click an icon on a screen rather than pulling a lever or turning a switch.
Computers have been around for 60 years, and have been in very common household and office use for a quarter of a century, yet journalists continue to act as if using them requires special “skills.”
at 1:17 pm
That’s because most journalists aren’t very bright themselves.
at 5:27 pm
Actually, Homer’s on-the-job doughnuts are provided by his employer. He was drawn to apply for the position after seeing doughnuts being delivered. So his doughnut fix is on top of his cash compensation.
But for young people who envy the stay-at-home-mom, two-car, house-in-the-suburbs lifestyle The Simpsons portrays, the nuclear technician degree may be the way to go.
at 10:34 am
Great article, and funny that we made the same comparison on our blog: http://bit.ly/cPKhge
I’m convinced that you can learn everything you need to know from watching the Simpsons. Take care.