Google data center lead says ‘hundreds of thousands’ of skilled trade jobs are open across the U.S.—and they’re ‘just waiting to be filled’
Source: Fortune ·
Despite growing backlash over data centers, trillions in AI investment are fueling a surge in high-paying skilled trades jobs across the U.S.
From the source
Data centers have become a flashpoint in the debate over AI, with critics raising concerns about their impact on local communities, including water use, electricity demand, and noise pollution. But data centers are also creating massive demand for workers—especially people interested in the skilled trades. “Currently there are hundreds of thousands of skilled trade roles open across the U.S. just waiting to be filled,” Tim Chadwick, Google Data Center Operations Area lead for Ohio and Indiana, wrote in a blog post. “These are jobs like master electrician, lead pipefitter, and project manager—high-growth careers that offer long-term financial stability.” These openings are part of a much larger shortage of blue-collar workers. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs in the U.S. could go unfilled by 2030, according to U.S. Department of Education estimates cited in a JLL report. For workers, that translates into a growing pool of career opportunities that don’t require a four-year…