Stanton area is building
data centers

Stanton area, ND has about 1.5 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 1.5 GW still to build. The builders here include NextEra Energy Resources.

At the busiest point, about 2,785 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 Stanton area, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, sheet metal workers, and pipefitters. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 392 ironworkers, but only about 68 of North Dakota's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves North Dakota short about 324. 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 174 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 118 of North Dakota'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 North Dakota short about 56. 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 783 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~788 electricians North Dakota has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Sheet metal workers — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 87 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~95 sheet metal workers North Dakota has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 305 pipefitters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~412 pipefitters North Dakota 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 478 carpenters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~708 carpenters North Dakota has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

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