Jobs Beget Jobs: Siemens in North Carolina

When we say that new nuclear plants are engines of job creation, we don’t just mean the new jobs created to construct and run the plants, but all the jobs that can grow up around it. Here’s an example:

Siemens Energy Inc. plans to hire more than 200 engineers in Charlotte – the latest step toward turning the region into an energy hub, state and local leaders said Thursday.

During a news conference at the Charlotte Chamber, Siemens officials said they'll add 226 jobs over the next five years, with an average annual salary of about $49,100 this year and $66,500 by 2013, plus benefits.

Nice in itself, nicer even when you consider:

Last month, a nuclear power unit of electronics giant Toshiba announced the addition of nearly 200 workers, averaging six-figure salaries, to staff a national project management and engineering center opening in August. More than 30 new nuclear reactors are proposed nationwide, including six in the Carolinas.

Hmmm. So it makes a little more sense why Siemens might be doing this:

Most of the new hires will be engineers, who will design the company's steam turbines and electric generators.

It all kind of fits together, doesn’t it? And North Carolina is a player here, too, eager to bring high paying jobs to its side of the state borders. And the reason:

“The state that gets green right,” she said then, “will own the next 50 years in this country.”

That’s Governor Bev Perdue. To translate into the vulgar: Jackpot!

Governor Purdue.

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