Data Center Construction Creates Temporary Jobs as AI Investment Grows

Technology companies are investing heavily in new data centers across the United States to power artificial intelligence systems. S. currently has about 4,000 data centers, and another 3,000 have been announced or are under construction, according to Apollo Global Management.

Spending on these facilities is projected to reach as much as $7 trillion by 2030, McKinsey estimates. 7 million temporary jobs and roughly 697,000 permanent positions.

Most immediate employment gains come from construction work required to build the facilities. These positions are temporary, labor economist Ben Zweig of Revelio Labs told CBS News. Once facilities are complete, data technicians, electricians, HVAC specialists and maintenance staff are needed. S.

earns a median salary of $88,000 per year, according to Glassdoor. Microsoft, IBM, Amazon and Google have posted openings for these roles. "Every AI data center requires people who can monitor, repair and continuously operate these facilities," fiber optics engineer Parminder K.

Jassal told CBS News.

Workforce expert Greg Wright of the Brookings Institution said construction crews bring spending to nearby hotels and restaurants. He noted this activity can produce short-term local employment effects. Some residents have opposed new data centers, citing strain on power grids and environmental concerns.

Critics have also questioned the size of tax incentives offered by local governments relative to the number of permanent jobs created. "Roles data centers create for long-term maintenance aren't huge in volume," Revelio Labs chief economist Lisa Simon told CBS News.

"They are a much more capital-intensive than labor-intensive undertaking.