AI Bows to Carpenters: The New Race of Tech Giants
Tech giants are investing about $700 billion this year in AI infrastructure, sparking a new race for skilled workers like electricians and carpenters. Companies are spending hundreds of millions on training and offering high salaries and bonuses. In Israel, a shortage of 30,000 construction workers threatens the data center boom, and the Electricity Authority has frozen new connection requests.
Tech giants Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and Meta are set to invest nearly $700 billion this year in AI infrastructure, with companies like OpenAI and Anthropic adding tens of billions more. The massive demand for data centers is creating a new race for skilled tradespeople like electricians and carpenters, who are needed to build the facilities. Companies are investing hundreds of millions in training and recruitment, sometimes persuading workers to relocate to remote communities. Google has committed $50 million to train 300,000 workers, and BlackRock will contribute $100 million over five years. The demand has offset declines in other industries, and data center wages are 42% higher. In Israel, the data center market is valued at $632.3 million, and the Electricity Authority has frozen new requests after a surge to 27,000 megawatts. A shortage of 30,000 construction workers threatens development.