Pine Island is building
data centers

Pine Island, MN has about 2.7 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 2.7 GW still to build. The builders here include Google.

At the busiest point, about 5,184 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 Pine Island, the data centers look most short on ironworkers and network/low-voltage technicians. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 729 ironworkers, but only about 212 of Minnesota's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Minnesota short about 517. 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, tight. The data centers need about 324 network/low-voltage technicians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~538 network/low-voltage technicians Minnesota has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Electricians — could go either way. The data centers need about 1,458 electricians, and Minnesota has about 3,242 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Sheet metal workers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 162 sheet metal workers, and Minnesota already has about 558 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 567 pipefitters, and Minnesota already has about 2,130 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

HVAC/R technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 324 hvac/r technicians, and Minnesota already has about 1,298 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 Minnesota. The Minnesota trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.