West Des Moines is building
data centers

West Des Moines, IA has about 1.4 GW of AI data centers across 9 sites, with 1.1 GW still to build. The builders here include Microsoft.

At the busiest point, about 2,083 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 West Des Moines, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, carpenters, and welders. Here is the read by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 293 ironworkers, but only about 82 of the West Des Moines area's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves the West Des Moines area short about 211. 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 130 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 122 of the West Des Moines area'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 the West Des Moines area short about 8. 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 585 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~610 electricians the West Des Moines area 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 358 carpenters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~492 carpenters the West Des Moines area has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Welders — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 163 welders at the busiest point — close to all of the ~222 welders the West Des Moines area 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 65 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~100 sheet metal workers the West Des Moines area 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 Iowa. The Iowa trade pages show you how to start. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.