Who builds Kentucky's
data centers?

Kentucky is building 3.1 GW of new AI data centers across 2 sites. 70 MW is already running, and 3 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Core Scientific, DOE (seeking private developer).

At the busiest point, about 5,760 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 Kentucky, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, sheet metal workers, network/low-voltage technicians, and electricians. 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 810 ironworkers, but only about 218 of Kentucky's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Kentucky short about 592. 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.

Sheet metal workers — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 180 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~222 sheet metal workers Kentucky has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Network/low-voltage technicians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 360 network/low-voltage technicians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~538 network/low-voltage technicians Kentucky has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Electricians — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 1,620 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~2,580 electricians Kentucky has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Carpenters — could go either way. The data centers need about 990 carpenters, and Kentucky has about 2,050 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Pipefitters — could go either way. The data centers need about 630 pipefitters, and Kentucky has about 1,375 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Welders — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 450 welders, and Kentucky already has about 1,840 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 451 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 Kentucky, 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.