Boardman is building
data centers

Boardman, OR has about 3.3 GW of AI data centers across 8 sites, with 2.3 GW still to build. The builders here include Amazon (AWS), Rowan Digital Infrastructure.

At the busiest point, about 4,416 skilled workers will be on these sites at once, across all the trades. Many drive in from nearby towns, but the work starts here — and it is not split evenly, so some trades are short and some are not.

Worth training up for? Around Boardman, the data centers look most short on ironworkers. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 621 ironworkers, but only about 140 of Oregon's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Oregon short about 481. When builders cannot find enough ironworkers, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Network/low-voltage technicians — could go either way. The data centers need about 276 network/low-voltage technicians, and Oregon has about 535 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Electricians — could go either way. The data centers need about 1,242 electricians, and Oregon has about 2,458 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Pipefitters — could go either way. The data centers need about 483 pipefitters, and Oregon has about 1,520 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

HVAC/R technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 276 hvac/r technicians, and Oregon already has about 922 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Welders — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 345 welders, and Oregon already has about 1,218 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

These are some of the best-paying jobs you can get without a four-year degree. When a trade is short, builders run overtime and pay to train, and experienced workers can clear $100,000 a year, with health care and a pension through the union. It is the same across the country: builders cannot find enough skilled workers. The U.S. needs about 140,000 more trade workers by 2030 to build all the data centers, and most builders say hiring is their hardest problem. Microsoft's president has called the shortage of electricians the biggest thing slowing data centers down.

You sign up and get your license through Oregon. The Oregon trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.