Remington is building
data centers

Remington, VA has about 825 MW of AI data centers across 5 sites, with 825 MW still to build. The builders here include Unknown operator, Gigaland, Convergent VA LLC, SAMX Data LLC.

At the busiest point, about 1,585 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 Remington, the data centers look most short on ironworkers. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 223 ironworkers, but only about 200 of the Remington area's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the Remington area short about 23. 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.

Welders — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 124 welders, and the Remington area already has about 640 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 99 network/low-voltage technicians, and the Remington area already has about 622 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 446 electricians, and the Remington area already has about 4,130 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 50 sheet metal workers, and the Remington area already has about 465 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 272 carpenters, and the Remington area already has about 3,062 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 Virginia. The Virginia trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.