Who builds Nebraska's
data centers?

Nebraska is building 3.5 GW of new AI data centers across 5 sites. 829 MW is already running, and 2.7 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Google, Meta.

At the busiest point, about 5,184 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 Nebraska, 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 729 ironworkers, but only about 135 of Nebraska's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Nebraska short about 594. 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, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 162 sheet metal workers, but only about 120 of Nebraska's sheet metal workers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Nebraska short about 42. When builders cannot find enough sheet metal workers, 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 324 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 298 of Nebraska'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 Nebraska short about 26. 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 1,458 electricians at the busiest point — close to all of the ~1,552 electricians Nebraska 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 891 carpenters, and Nebraska has about 1,638 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 567 pipefitters, and Nebraska has about 1,060 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

HVAC/R technicians — could go either way. The data centers need about 324 hvac/r technicians, and Nebraska has about 770 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 519 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 Nebraska, 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.