- Data center development across both established and emerging U.S. markets continues to drive strong demand for skilled trades, including electricians, plumbers, HVAC installers, and telecom line workers. Employment in these occupations rose 22.1% on average across the top 10 U.S. data center markets between 2020 and 2025.
- Emerging hubs are experiencing the fastest growth, with Reno leading at 48% job gains over the past five years, followed by Austin (40%) and Phoenix (33%). Meanwhile, established markets like Northern Virgina, Dallas-Fort Worth, and Chicago maintain the largest skilled labor pools.
- Securing skilled labor at scale has become a critical challenge over the past two years as more gigawatt-scale campuses break ground. With each project often requiring thousands of workers, developers in labor-constrained markets are increasingly recruiting skilled tradespeople from across the country to keep construction timelines on track.
Surge in U.S. data center development drives double-digit growth in skilled trades
