Who builds Oregon's
data centers?

Oregon is building 5.4 GW of new AI data centers across 25 sites. 2.8 GW is already running, and 2.6 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Amazon (AWS), Google, Meta, QTS.

At the busiest point, about 5,013 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 Oregon, 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 705 ironworkers, but only about 140 of Oregon's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Oregon short about 565. 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 — could go either way. The data centers need about 313 network/low-voltage technicians, and Oregon has about 535 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Electricians — could go either way. The data centers need about 1,410 electricians, and Oregon has about 2,458 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 548 pipefitters, and Oregon has about 1,520 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 313 hvac/r technicians, and Oregon has about 922 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Welders — could go either way. The data centers need about 392 welders, and Oregon has about 1,218 free for this kind of work. Enough to mostly cover it, but it will be busy, with some overtime.

Sheet metal workers — probably not, just for this. The data centers need about 157 sheet metal workers, and Oregon already has about 730 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 796 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 Oregon, 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.