As artificial intelligence transforms traditional office work, Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang says the massive infrastructure needed to power the technology could create lucrative opportunities for electricians, plumbers, construction workers and other skilled tradespeople.
AI Data Center Boom Could Drive Demand for Skilled Workers
Speaking with BlackRock Inc. CEO Larry Fink at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January this year, Huang said the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure could become the “largest infrastructure build-out in human history.”
Technology companies are investing heavily in data centers, advanced chips and AI computing systems, with global capital spending projected to reach trillions of dollars by the end of the decade.
However, building these facilities requires far more than software engineers and computer scientists.
“It’s wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft,” Huang said, pointing to growing demand for “plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers.”
He added that the AI boom could create “a lot of jobs” across hands-on industries. “We’re talking about six-figure salaries for people who are building chip factories or computer factories or AI factories.”
Jensen Huang Says a PhD Isn’t Required for AI Opportunities
Huang argued that workers do not need an advanced degree in computer science to benefit from AI growth.
“Everybody should be able to make a great living,” he said. “You don’t need to have a PhD in computer science to do so.”
Skilled Labor Shortage Fuels Trade Job Demand
His comments reflect a broader shortage of skilled labor in the U.S.
A McKinsey July 2023 report estimated that the country could need an additional 130,000 trained electricians, 240,000 construction laborers and 150,000 construction supervisors between 2023 and 2030.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects construction and extraction jobs to grow faster than the overall job market from 2024 to 2034, with about 649,300 openings projected annually. The group’s median annual wage was $58,360 in May 2024, above the $49,500 median across all occupations.
In June, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said Google.org would invest an additional $50 million to prepare more than 300,000 Americans for skilled trade careers across 20-plus states.
The announcement followed Meta Platforms, Inc. CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s launch of a $115 million initiative to train workers for data center construction and operations roles.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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