Piketon is building
data centers

Piketon, OH has about 10 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 10 GW still to build. The builders here include DOE (seeking private developer).

At the busiest point, about 19,200 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 Piketon, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, and carpenters. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 2,700 ironworkers, but only about 480 of Ohio's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Ohio short about 2,220. 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 1,200 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 960 of Ohio'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 Ohio short about 240. 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, tight. The data centers need about 5,400 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~6,788 electricians Ohio has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 3,300 carpenters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~4,320 carpenters Ohio has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Pipefitters — could go either way. The data centers need about 2,100 pipefitters, and Ohio has about 3,622 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Sheet metal workers — could go either way. The data centers need about 600 sheet metal workers, and Ohio has about 1,338 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

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