Who builds North Carolina's
data centers?
North Carolina is building 2.7 GW of new data centers across 13 sites. Here is the work that means for the trades — and why there are not enough workers for it.
Worth training up for in North Carolina?
YES means the data centers will need more of that trade than North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina
North Carolina is building 3 GW of new AI data centers across 13 sites. 289 MW is already running, and 2.7 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Microsoft, WhiteFiber, Apple, Core Scientific.
At the busiest point, about 5,201 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 North Carolina, 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 731 ironworkers, but only about 385 of North Carolina's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves North Carolina short about 346. 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.
Carpenters — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 894 carpenters, and North Carolina already has about 3,352 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 1,463 electricians, and North Carolina already has about 5,915 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 163 sheet metal workers, and North Carolina already has about 715 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Network/low-voltage technicians — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 325 network/low-voltage technicians, and North Carolina already has about 1,442 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 569 pipefitters, and North Carolina already has about 3,575 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 406 welders, and North Carolina already has about 3,005 free for this kind of work. Plenty. Still steady work, but no special data-center shortage.
Data center technicians: once open, the data centers will need about 441 data center technicians to run them — steady, permanent jobs that North Carolina can mostly fill.
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 North Carolina, 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 | 1,463 | 5,915 | 4,452 spare | 113 | NO |
| Carpenters | 894 | 3,352 | 2,458 spare | — | NO |
| Ironworkers | 731 | 385 | short 346 | — | YES |
| Pipefitters | 569 | 3,575 | 3,006 spare | — | NO |
| Welders | 406 | 3,005 | 2,599 spare | — | NO |
| HVAC/R technicians | 325 | 3,438 | 3,113 spare | 50 | NO |
| Network/low-voltage technicians | 325 | 1,442 | 1,117 spare | 25 | NO |
| Data center technicians | — | 918 | 477 spare | 441 | CLOSE |
| Plumbers | 244 | 3,575 | 3,331 spare | — | NO |
| Sheet metal workers | 163 | 715 | 552 spare | — | NO |
| Elevator mechanics | 81 | 98 | — | — | — |
"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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