AI Data Centers: Skilled Worker Shortage Crisis
- The AI data center construction boom continues unabated, with the demand for power in the United States potentially reaching 106 gigawatts by 2035, according to a December report...
- The power grid engineering workforce is currently shrinking, and data center operators are also hurting for trained electrical engineers.
- "As we anticipate a shortage of traditional engineering talent, we are sourcing from diverse industries," says Laltrello.
The AI data center construction boom continues unabated, with the demand for power in the United States potentially reaching 106 gigawatts by 2035, according to a December report from research and analysis company BloombergNEF. That’s a 36 percent jump from the company’s previous outlook, published just seven months earlier. But there are severe constraints in power availability, material, equipment, and-perhaps moast significantly-a lack of engineers, technicians, and skilled craftsmen that could turn the data center boom into a bust.
The power grid engineering workforce is currently shrinking, and data center operators are also hurting for trained electrical engineers. Laura laltrello, the chief operating officer for Applied Digital, says demand has accelerated for civil, mechanical, and electrical engineers, as well as construction management and oversight positions in recent months. (Applied Digital is a data center developer and operator that is building two data center campuses near harwood, North Dakota that will require 1.4 GW of power when completed.) The growing demand for skilled workers has forced her company to widen the recruitment perimeter.
“As we anticipate a shortage of traditional engineering talent, we are sourcing from diverse industries,” says Laltrello. “We are finding experts who understand power and cooling from sectors like nuclear energy, the military, and aerospace. Expertise doesn’t have to come from a data center background.”
Growing Demand for Data Center Engineers
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for every engineer needed to design, specify, build, inspect, commission, or run a new AI data center, dozens of other positions are in short supply.According to the association for Computer operations and Management’s (AFCOM) State of the Data Center Report 2025,58 percent of data center managers identified multi-skilled data center operators as the top area of growth,while 50 percent signaled increasing demand for data center engineers. Security specialists are also a critical need.
Through the next decade, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the need for almost 400,000 more construction workers by 2033. By far the biggest needs are in power infrastructure, electricians, plumbing and HVAC, and roughly 17,500 electrical and electronics engineers. These categories directly map to the skills required to design, build, commission
A growing skills gap in manufacturing and data center operations is prompting initiatives to train and upskill the workforce, with universities adapting curricula to meet future demands. Several organizations are launching programs to address the shortage of qualified technicians and operators.
ToolingU-SME and workforce Development
ToolingU-SME is actively working to expand the manufacturing workforce through specialized training programs. The association provides online and blended learning solutions focused on skilled trades, aiming to close the skills gap in the manufacturing sector.
According to a 2023 report by Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute,manufacturing faces a potential skills gap of 2.1 million workers by 2030, costing the industry $1 trillion.
Uptime Institute Education and Data Center Readiness
Uptime Institute Education offers programs designed to accelerate the readiness of technicians and operators in the data center industry. These programs focus on critical infrastructure skills, including data center design, operations, and maintenance.
The Uptime Institute’s Tier standard, established in 1999, provides a framework for evaluating data center infrastructure reliability, and their educational programs aim to equip professionals with the knowledge to implement and maintain these standards. as of December 2023, over 70% of hyperscale data centers are Tier III certified or designed to Tier III standards, demonstrating the industry’s focus on reliability.
ASHRAE and Data Center Cooling Standards
The American Society of heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) plays a crucial role in setting standards for data center cooling and energy efficiency.
ASHRAE’s TC9.9 standard, “Thermal Guidelines for Data Processing Environments,” is the primary document governing data center thermal management, updated regularly to reflect advancements in technology and best practices. The latest revision, published in 2021, addresses liquid cooling and high-density deployments.
University Curriculum Shifts
Universities are responding to the evolving needs of the manufacturing and data center industries by updating their curricula to prepare students for the future of digital infrastructure.
Many institutions are incorporating more hands-on training, simulations, and industry certifications into their programs. For example, Purdue University has expanded its offerings in advanced manufacturing and data science, partnering with industry leaders to provide students with real-world experience. A 2024 study by the National Association of Manufacturers found that 89% of manufacturers report difficulty finding qualified workers.