Mentions of “Data Centers” crop up increasingly in the news these days. While this somewhat innocuous name is not particularly exciting, recruiters should be excited and should learn more about how they can benefit from this booming industry. Booms do not happen just every day and we should take maximum advantage when we are blessed with one! This article addresses some of the current trends in the industry and is intended to identify some of the pertinent labor needs of this industry so that recruiters can get on board and make some placements! The new administration is implementing policies which will further accelerate this trend and is determined to make the US a key player, if not the world leader, in Data Center development. 

So, why do we think a boom is coming? The answer lies in the list below¹ of a small sample of recently announced projects along with the level of investment involved. The numbers are really mind-boggling and should present recruiters with many opportunities to make placements across the spectrum of labor required to complete the Data Centers. Have a look at the list and see what I mean!

Project Name             Location                                Investment                          Notes

OpenAI/Softbank          Abilene, TX                  (initial) $500 billion                        Data Centers

PowerBridge                 Permian Basin, TX                   $1 billion                            Data Center sites

CoreWeave                   Plano, TX                                $1.6 billion                         Nvidia Computer

                                   Kenilworth, NJ                         $1.2 billion                         Data Center

Microsoft                      Mt Pleasant, WI                       $3.3 billion                         AI/Data Center

Amazon                        Fayette Co., OH                       $5 billion                           Data Center

Meta                            Cheyenne, WY                          $800 million                      Data Center

                                   Montgomery, AL                       $800 million                      Data Center

To implement these and other similar projects a broad array of skills and talents are needed. The table below summarizes the job classifications needed to do the job:

Category Roles

Design & Planning Architects, Engineers, Analysts

Build Contractors, Technicians, Engineers

Operations Administrators, Managers, Maintenance Techs

Security Physical & Cybersecurity Personnel

Support Project Managers, Finance, Compliance Personnel

Recruiters have an opportunity to source people from these categories and potentially make significant placements. Most of the personnel listed will likely be relatively high-dollar people. Do research on these and other similar projects so you can establish contact with those involved in the work and try to build your inventory of applicable candidates so you can offer your services to the Data Center developers.

While the above information focuses on direct Data Center applications, there is more to the Boom story! In addition to the direct needs there are collateral beneficial growth effects of a Data Center installation which include local support for staff, including housing, food and entertainment, and other consumer services. While these personnel are not the high-dollar people of the Data Center, there may well be significant opportunities for recruiters, nonetheless.

Another aspect of this Boom is a factor that I alluded to in an earlier article.² And that factor is the urgent need to upgrade and expand the power supply grid and generation facilities in the US. Often the planned Data Centers have dedicated power supplies based on solar, coal, gas, and nuclear power. Nuclear is especially interesting in that Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are being designed to service this need. This is another potential vast source of placements of high-tech and high-dollar people!

I hope this article has given you some ideas on how to get involved in the Data Center Boom. Do some research on the engineering firms, manufacturers, contractors, and other firms which are likely to be involved and be ready to offer your services to them. Direct-hires can be complemented with contract placements to fill the employer’s needs. Get set up in advance with an EOR to handle contract placements so you can act quickly when the need arises.

If you would like to discuss any of these ideas or would like help defining a business strategy, please feel free to give me a call or contact me at judy@jcsrllc.com, or visit my new website at https://www.jcsrllc.com for more information.

¹ ChatGPT derived research.

² Judy Collins. “Take Advantage of the Coming Power Surge!” March 24, 2025.