The New York Post spotlights one of the data center industry’s most striking side effects: a blue-collar gold rush that is turning young electricians into six-figure earners — with some pulling in as much as $260,000 a year with no college debt. The AI-driven infrastructure build-out is creating fierce competition for skilled trades workers at a time when the industry faces a projected shortage of nearly 500,000 workers by 2027.

DataBank is among the operators cited as fueling the construction surge. The company recently secured $2 billion in financing to build three new data centers in the Dallas area, underscoring the scale of investment driving demand for electricians, HVAC technicians, and other skilled trades. Electrical work alone accounts for 45% to 70% of total data center construction costs, making qualified electricians among the most sought-after workers in the country.

The article notes that data center construction workers earn roughly 30% more on average than peers on non-data center projects. In high-demand markets like Northern Virginia, local electrician union membership has doubled in seven years. The broader message is one DataBank has been putting into practice: the industry’s growth creates real career opportunities for the next generation of trades workers.

Read the full article at the New York Post.