Data center frenzy is spurring a jobs boomlet for blue-collar workers
Summary
The rapid growth of data centers supporting artificial intelligence is creating new blue-collar jobs in the U.S., especially in construction. While many of these jobs are temporary, some permanent roles for data center operation and maintenance are also emerging.Key Facts
- Data centers require many construction workers during their build phase, leading to a temporary jobs increase.
- Around 3,000 data centers are currently announced or being built in the U.S., adding to about 4,000 existing ones.
- Spending on data centers could reach $7 trillion by 2030, according to McKinsey.
- Data centers create fewer full-time jobs after construction, mainly needing specialized technicians, electricians, and maintenance staff.
- The American Edge Project estimates 4.7 million temporary construction jobs and about 697,000 permanent jobs from data centers.
- These projects can boost local economies by increasing demand for hotels, restaurants, and other services during construction.
- Some people oppose data centers due to concerns about environmental impact, strain on power supplies, and large tax incentives to companies.
- Data center technicians earn a median salary of about $88,000 yearly and work in shifts to keep the facilities running 24/7.
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