Who builds Michigan's
data centers?
Michigan is building 2.5 GW of new data centers across 11 sites. Here is the work that means for the trades — and why there are not enough workers for it.
Worth training up for in Michigan?
YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than Michigan 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 Michigan 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 if you work a trade in Michigan
Michigan is building 3 GW of new AI data centers across 11 sites. 557 MW is already running, and 2.5 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Google, Microsoft, Switch, Metrobloks.
At the busiest point, about 4,765 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 Michigan, the data centers look most short on ironworkers. 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 670 ironworkers, but only about 502 of Michigan's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Michigan short about 168. 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 — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 298 network/low-voltage technicians, and Michigan already has about 1,295 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Electricians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 1,341 electricians, and Michigan already has about 6,168 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 521 pipefitters, and Michigan already has about 3,208 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 819 carpenters, and Michigan already has about 5,388 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 149 sheet metal workers, and Michigan already has about 1,148 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Welders — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 372 welders, and Michigan already has about 3,410 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 447 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 Michigan, 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.
Every trade, by the numbers
| Trade | Needed at peak | Free to take it on | Short or extra | New data-center jobs | Train up? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricians | 1,341 | 6,168 | 4,827 spare | 115 | NO |
| Carpenters | 819 | 5,388 | 4,569 spare | — | NO |
| Ironworkers | 670 | 502 | short 168 | — | YES |
| Pipefitters | 521 | 3,208 | 2,687 spare | — | NO |
| Welders | 372 | 3,410 | 3,038 spare | — | NO |
| HVAC/R technicians | 298 | 3,430 | 3,132 spare | 51 | NO |
| Network/low-voltage technicians | 298 | 1,295 | 997 spare | 26 | NO |
| Data center technicians | — | 345 | short 102 | 447 | YES |
| Plumbers | 223 | 3,208 | 2,985 spare | — | NO |
| Sheet metal workers | 149 | 1,148 | 999 spare | — | NO |
| Elevator mechanics | 74 | 165 | — | — | — |
"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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