Who builds Louisiana's
data centers?

Louisiana is building 3 GW of new AI data centers across 8 sites. 0 MW is already running, and 3 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Amazon (AWS), Hut 8, Meta, Applied Digital.

At the busiest point, about 5,826 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 Louisiana, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, sheet metal workers, 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 819 ironworkers, but only about 390 of Louisiana's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Louisiana short about 429. 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 182 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~220 sheet metal workers Louisiana 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 1,639 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~2,702 electricians Louisiana has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Network/low-voltage technicians — could go either way. The data centers need about 364 network/low-voltage technicians, and Louisiana has about 745 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Carpenters — could go either way. The data centers need about 1,002 carpenters, and Louisiana has about 2,205 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

HVAC/R technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 364 hvac/r technicians, and Louisiana already has about 1,260 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 637 pipefitters, and Louisiana already has about 2,260 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 446 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 Louisiana, 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.