Paducah is building
data centers

Paducah, KY has about 3 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 3 GW still to build. The builders here include DOE (seeking private developer).

At the busiest point, about 5,760 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 Paducah, the data centers look most short on network/low-voltage technicians, carpenters, electricians, hvac/r technicians, and pipefitters. Here is the read by trade.

Network/low-voltage technicians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 360 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 12 of the Paducah 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 Paducah area short about 348. 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.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 990 carpenters, but only about 70 of the Paducah area's carpenters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Paducah area short about 920. 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.

Electricians — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 1,620 electricians, but only about 115 of the Paducah area's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Paducah area short about 1,505. 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 360 hvac/r technicians, but only about 28 of the Paducah 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 Paducah area short about 332. 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 630 pipefitters, but only about 72 of the Paducah area's pipefitters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Paducah area short about 558. 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.

Welders — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 450 welders, but only about 80 of the Paducah area's welders are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Paducah area short about 370. When builders cannot find enough welders, 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 Kentucky. The Kentucky trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.