The Dangerous Economist: Data Centers Are a ‘Gold Rush’ for Construction Workers

Surging demand means six-figure pay and more perks

I have posted about how AI is or will affect the economy and jobs. But in this case non-computer workers are benefiting. Excerpts:

"Since April, [DeMond] Chambliss has worked the night shift overseeing a team of 200 welders, plumbers and electricians at a local data-center construction site. He makes more than $100,000 a year"
"Data centers don’t employ many workers once they are actually built. During construction, though, they are a hive of workers pouring concrete walls and foundations, wiring electric panels and installing equipment such as power generators and chillers to ensure servers are cooled to a precise temperature at all times."
"Given such complexity and high demand, workers who move into the data-center industry—in roles ranging from electricians to project managers—often earn 25% to 30% more than they did before"
"Data centers are ballooning in size, and a single project can take years to construct and require thousands of workers."
"Marc Benner, . . . spends the day making the rounds ensuring electrical safety. These are lucrative skills at the electricity-gobbling sites, and Benner makes $225,000 a year"
"“In this industry, stability is a really big thing,” said Michael Damme, 43, who makes $200,000 a year overseeing concrete construction at three data-center sites"
"Shawn Jones . . . makes around $100,000 as a general foreman for DPR Construction at a data center in Abilene, Texas"

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