Who builds Indiana's
data centers?

Indiana is building 13.8 GW of new AI data centers across 17 sites. 750 MW is already running, and 13 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Amazon (AWS), Google, Meta, Microsoft.

At the busiest point, about 25,034 skilled workers will be on these sites at once, across all the trades. But the work is not split evenly — some trades will be short, and some will not. That is what decides whether it is worth training up.

Should you train up for this? It depends on the trade. In Indiana, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, carpenters, and pipefitters. Those are the best bets right now. Here is the read, trade by trade.

Ironworkers — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 3,520 ironworkers, but only about 632 of Indiana's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Indiana short about 2,888. 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 1,565 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 605 of Indiana'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 Indiana short about 960. 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, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 7,041 electricians, but only about 4,342 of Indiana's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Indiana short about 2,699. When builders cannot find enough electricians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 4,303 carpenters, but only about 3,800 of Indiana's carpenters are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Indiana short about 503. When builders cannot find enough carpenters, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 2,738 pipefitters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~2,905 pipefitters Indiana 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 782 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~892 sheet metal workers Indiana has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

HVAC/R technicians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 1,565 hvac/r technicians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~1,905 hvac/r technicians Indiana has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 2,027 data center technicians to run them, day and night. These are permanent jobs, and there are not enough local data center technicians to fill them — so they hire and train. Steady, long-term work.

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.

The building jobs run for a few years; the jobs that run the data centers last longer. Either way, a shortage is good news if you are in that trade. To start in Indiana, look at the apprenticeship programs for the trade you want. Sources: a national survey of data-center building plans, plus U.S. jobs and pay data.