Demand for data centers is exploding, but the people needed to keep them running are becoming harder to find.
At a facility outside Chicago, manager Brandyn Frye says the challenge is clear: “Everything in here needs service — tech support, HVAC support, electricians. But the supply of skilled workers we need 24/7 is shrinking.”
Data centers are now competing with factories and manufacturers for the same pool of electricians, plumbers, and technicians. With many older workers retiring and fewer young people entering the trades, the gap is growing fast.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates about 400,000 trade jobs are currently unfilled across the U.S. By 2033, Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute project that number could swell to nearly 2 million.
Technology may help. Matt Roselin of software firm IFS says his company’s tools can make the workforce more efficient. “We can account for weather, traffic, and priorities, then automatically reroute technicians. With labor shortages, companies need to do more with less.”
Still, workers on the ground see the shortage in real time. HVAC technician Dan Brown says it baffles him: in Chicago, experienced HVAC pros can earn more than $150,000 a year, often without student debt. “The trades got neglected, and now there’s a void that needs to be filled,” he said.
Electrician Kevin Fishback says his union is trying to close that gap with aggressive apprenticeship programs. “They come into the trades and they’ve got insurance, health care, a pension. It’s a real career,” he said.
That’s encouraging news for Frye, who hopes more young people see the value. “This career path is out there, and it’s a good one,” he said.