Goshen is building
data centers

Goshen, IN has about 1.5 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 1.5 GW still to build. The builders here include Takanock.

At the busiest point, about 2,880 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 Goshen, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, hvac/r technicians, and pipefitters. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 405 ironworkers, but only about 20 of the Goshen area's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 385. 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 — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 180 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 15 of the Goshen area's network/low-voltage technicians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 165. When builders cannot find enough network/low-voltage technicians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Electricians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 810 electricians, but only about 128 of the Goshen area's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 682. When builders cannot find enough electricians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

HVAC/R technicians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 180 hvac/r technicians, but only about 50 of the Goshen area's hvac/r technicians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 130. When builders cannot find enough hvac/r technicians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 315 pipefitters, but only about 128 of the Goshen area's pipefitters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 187. When builders cannot find enough pipefitters, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 495 carpenters, but only about 345 of the Goshen area's carpenters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Goshen area short about 150. When builders cannot find enough carpenters, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

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 Indiana. The Indiana trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.