AI Companies Recruit Thousands of Tradesworkers, Backing $115 Million and $50 Million Training Pushes
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
AI Companies Recruit Thousands of Tradesworkers, Backing $115 Million and $50 Million Training Pushes
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 7
Summary
Data center builders are pulling electricians and carpenters into AI projects by the thousands, offering long hours, bonuses and premium pay as construction demand surges.
42% higher hourly pay for data-center installation and maintenance jobs is fueling a bidding war in markets such as Dallas and Northern Virginia, straining labor supply for other construction work.
$50 million from Google will help raise annual electrical apprenticeship enrollment to 30,000 from 19,500 for three years, while BlackRock is funding part of a broader $100 million skilled-trades expansion.
Meta has set aside $115 million for the first year of a multiyear program starting with about 5,000 trainees, while OpenAI has pledged to use union labor on projects including its Michigan site.
The hiring boom is offsetting weakness in office, housing and wind construction, but it is also raising concerns about community backlash, worker shortages elsewhere and what happens when the build-out ends.