Walterboro is building
data centers
Walterboro has 1 GW of data centers across 1 sites. That is a lot of work for the trades, and there are not enough workers nearby to do it.
Worth training up for in South Carolina?
YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than South Carolina can spare — so they pay well, pay to train, and run overtime. NO means there are already plenty.
"Short" means the data centers need more of that trade at the busiest point than the area has free to take on new work. Most workers stay on their regular jobs; only about 1 in 4 are free for big new projects like these.
Will South Carolina have enough workers?
At the busiest point of the build. Bars to the left mean a shortage (good if you are in that trade). Bars to the right mean workers to spare.
What this means for workers near Walterboro
Walterboro, SC has about 1 GW of AI data centers across 1 site, with 1 GW still to build. The builders here include Eagle Rock Partners.
At the busiest point, about 1,920 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 Walterboro, 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 270 ironworkers, but only about 168 of South Carolina's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves South Carolina short about 102. 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.
Electricians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 540 electricians, and South Carolina already has about 1,958 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 330 carpenters, and South Carolina already has about 1,768 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 120 network/low-voltage technicians, and South Carolina already has about 648 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 60 sheet metal workers, and South Carolina already has about 365 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 210 pipefitters, and South Carolina already has about 1,370 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 South Carolina. The South Carolina trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.
Every trade, by the numbers
| Trade | Needed at peak | Free to take it on | Short or extra | New data-center jobs | Train up? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 540 | 1,958 | 1,418 spare | 38 | NO |
| Carpenters | 330 | 1,768 | 1,438 spare | — | NO |
| Ironworkers | 270 | 168 | short 102 | — | YES |
| Pipefitters | 210 | 1,370 | 1,160 spare | — | NO |
| Welders | 150 | 1,900 | 1,750 spare | — | NO |
| HVAC/R technicians | 120 | 1,592 | 1,472 spare | 17 | NO |
| Network/low-voltage technicians | 120 | 648 | 528 spare | 8 | NO |
| Plumbers | 90 | 1,370 | 1,280 spare | — | NO |
| Data center technicians | — | 195 | 48 spare | 147 | YES |
| Sheet metal workers | 60 | 365 | 305 spare | — | NO |
| Elevator mechanics | 30 | 82 | — | — | — |
"Needed at peak" is the most of that trade working across all the building at the busiest time. "Free to take it on" is how many local workers could move to data-center jobs — about 1 in 4 of the trade; the rest keep their regular jobs. "Short or extra" is the gap. "New data-center jobs" are permanent jobs that stay once a data center opens. "Train up?" is YES when the work needs more than the area can spare (so they pay well and pay to train), NO when there are plenty already. Elevator mechanics are left out of the verdict because their work depends on the building's design.
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