P Prentice
Goodyear, AZ

Goodyear is building
data centers

Goodyear has 447 MW of data centers across 4 sites. That is a lot of work for the trades, and there are not enough workers nearby to do it.

4 sites |224 MW still to build |430 workers at peak
Running now
223 MW
Still to build
224 MW
Total workers on site at peak
430
Building sites
4
Goodyear data centers: running now vs. still to build
Running now: 223 MW Still to build: 224 MW Total: 447 MW
The bottom line

Worth training up for in the Goodyear area?

YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than the Goodyear area can spare — so they pay well, pay to train, and run overtime. NO means there are already plenty.

CLOSE
Data center technicians
Some steady jobs — 66 steady jobs once they open
NO
Ironworkers
Plenty already — about 585 to spare
NO
Network/low-voltage technicians
Plenty already — about 375 to spare
NO
Electricians
Plenty already — about 4,064 to spare
NO
Pipefitters
Plenty already — about 2,451 to spare
NO
Sheet metal workers
Plenty already — about 602 to spare
NO
Carpenters
Plenty already — about 3,546 to spare
NO
Welders
Plenty already — about 1,384 to spare
NO
HVAC/R technicians
Plenty already — about 1,953 to spare
NO
Plumbers
Plenty already — about 2,478 to spare

"Short" means the data centers need more of that trade at the busiest point than the area has free to take on new work. Most workers stay on their regular jobs; only about 1 in 4 are free for big new projects like these.

Enough workers?

Will the Goodyear area have enough workers?

At the busiest point of the build. Bars to the left mean a shortage (good if you are in that trade). Bars to the right mean workers to spare.

just enough SHORT TO SPARE Network/low-voltage technicians 375 spare Ironworkers 585 spare Sheet metal workers 602 spare Welders 1,384 spare HVAC/R technicians 1,953 spare Pipefitters 2,451 spare Plumbers 2,478 spare Carpenters 3,546 spare Electricians 4,064 spare
The short version

What this means for workers near Goodyear

Goodyear, AZ has about 447 MW of AI data centers across 4 sites, with 224 MW still to build. The builders here include Vantage, Microsoft, Stream Data Centers.

At the busiest point, about 430 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? The work near Goodyear is steady, but the area has enough workers for most trades. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 60 ironworkers, and the Goodyear area already has about 645 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Network/low-voltage technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 27 network/low-voltage technicians, and the Goodyear area already has about 402 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Electricians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 121 electricians, and the Goodyear area already has about 4,185 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Pipefitters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 47 pipefitters, and the Goodyear area already has about 2,498 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Sheet metal workers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 13 sheet metal workers, and the Goodyear area already has about 615 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Carpenters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 74 carpenters, and the Goodyear area already has about 3,620 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 Arizona. The Arizona trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.

Every trade

Every trade, by the numbers

Is there a shortage of each trade for the data centers in the Goodyear area?
Trade Needed at peak Free to take it on Short or extra New data-center jobs Train up?
Electricians 121 4,185 4,064 spare 17 NO
Carpenters 74 3,620 3,546 spare NO
Ironworkers 60 645 585 spare NO
Pipefitters 47 2,498 2,451 spare NO
Data center technicians 182 116 spare 66 CLOSE
Welders 34 1,418 1,384 spare NO
HVAC/R technicians 27 1,980 1,953 spare 8 NO
Network/low-voltage technicians 27 402 375 spare 4 NO
Plumbers 20 2,498 2,478 spare NO
Sheet metal workers 13 615 602 spare NO
Elevator mechanics 7

"Needed at peak" is the most of that trade working across all the building at the busiest time. "Free to take it on" is how many local workers could move to data-center jobs — about 1 in 4 of the trade; the rest keep their regular jobs. "Short or extra" is the gap. "New data-center jobs" are permanent jobs that stay once a data center opens. "Train up?" is YES when the work needs more than the area can spare (so they pay well and pay to train), NO when there are plenty already. Elevator mechanics are left out of the verdict because their work depends on the building's design.

Get Goodyear-area data-center job updates

New sites, tips on getting hired, and pay updates near Goodyear. Free.

NO SPAM|UNSUBSCRIBE ANYTIME|FREE FOREVER