Who builds Virginia's
data centers?

Virginia is building 17.3 GW of new AI data centers across 70 sites. 3.9 GW is already running, and 13.4 GW is still being built. The biggest builders here are Amazon (AWS), Microsoft, QTS, PowerHouse Data Centers.

At the busiest point, about 25,718 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 Virginia, the data centers look most short on ironworkers, network/low-voltage technicians, electricians, carpenters, and pipefitters. 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 3,617 ironworkers, but only about 298 of Virginia's ironworkers are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Virginia short about 3,319. 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 — worth training up: YES, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 1,607 network/low-voltage technicians, but only about 788 of Virginia'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 Virginia short about 819. 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, big shortage. At the busiest point the data centers need about 7,233 electricians, but only about 6,075 of Virginia's electricians are free to take it on — the rest are busy with their regular jobs, which do not stop. That leaves Virginia short about 1,158. When builders cannot find enough electricians, the ones already working put in overtime (bigger paychecks), and builders pay to train new people and bring in workers from other states.

Carpenters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 4,420 carpenters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~4,585 carpenters Virginia has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Pipefitters — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 2,813 pipefitters at the busiest point — close to all of the ~3,298 pipefitters Virginia has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Sheet metal workers — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 804 sheet metal workers at the busiest point — close to all of the ~968 sheet metal workers Virginia has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Welders — worth training up: YES, tight. The data centers need about 2,009 welders at the busiest point — close to all of the ~2,672 welders Virginia has free for this kind of work. Expect overtime, steady work, and builders willing to train.

Data center technicians — worth training up: YES. Once these data centers open they will need about 2,542 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 Virginia, 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.