Ridgeland is building
data centers

Ridgeland, MS has about 650 MW of AI data centers across 2 sites, with 650 MW still to build. The builders here include Amazon (AWS).

At the busiest point, about 1,248 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 Ridgeland, 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 176 ironworkers, but only about 128 of Mississippi's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Mississippi short about 48. 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.

Carpenters — could go either way. The data centers need about 214 carpenters, and Mississippi has about 558 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Electricians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 351 electricians, and Mississippi already has about 1,412 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 136 pipefitters, and Mississippi already has about 762 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 78 network/low-voltage technicians, and Mississippi already has about 425 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 39 sheet metal workers, and Mississippi already has about 285 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 Mississippi. The Mississippi trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.