"Gray pointed to QTS, one of Blackstone's portfolio companies, which operates or is developing more than 75 data centers worldwide. A year ago, roughly 10,000 workers were on QTS job sites. By year's end, that number is set to quadruple to 40,000-a 300% jump. "Between the energy, the physical infrastructure, the data centers, the reindustrialization-something very powerful [is] happening," Gray said."
"The boom is being fueled by a massive wave of AI infrastructure investment. According to McKinsey, global spending on data centers could reach $7 trillion by 2030, creating lucrative opportunities for electricians, pipefitters, and HVAC technicians, helping build the facilities powering the AI economy. While data centers vary in size, a single data center can be 40% to 50% larger than an average Walmart Supercenter and require up to 1,500 workers during peak construction."
"The average salary of construction workers on data center projects is about $81,800 annually or $39.33 an hour-roughly 32% more than those on non-data center builds-according to data from Skillit, an AI-powered hiring platform for construction workers. Fortune reached out to Blackstone for further comment. Companies are pouring millions into rebuilding the skilled trades talent pipeline"
"Despite the demand and rising pay, filling critical skilled-trade roles hasn't been easy for companies racing to build out AI infrastructure. An estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs in the U.S. could go unfilled by 2030-with potential economic losses reaching $1 trillion annually, according to U.S. Department of Education estimates cited in a report from JLL first shared exclusively with Fortune. The shortage stems from"
A predicted surge in blue-collar employment is tied to large-scale AI infrastructure spending. QTS, a Blackstone portfolio company, operates or develops more than 75 data centers worldwide. QTS job sites are expected to grow from about 10,000 workers to about 40,000 by year end, a 300% increase. Data center construction demand is supported by forecasts of global data center spending reaching $7 trillion by 2030. A single data center can be 40% to 50% larger than a Walmart Supercenter and may require up to 1,500 workers during peak construction. Construction workers on data center projects average about $81,800 annually, about 32% more than non-data center builds. Skilled-trade shortages could leave millions of jobs unfilled by 2030, creating large potential economic losses.
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