Former White House AI and Crypto Czar David Sacks said the rapid expansion of AI data centers is creating a growing shortage of skilled trades workers, prompting new training efforts to fill critical labor gaps.
AI Boom Sparks Skilled Trades Shortage
On Monday, Sacks said the AI buildout is creating a significant shortage of blue-collar talent needed for critical infrastructure work.
In a post on X, he wrote, "The AI infrastructure boom is generating strong demand for skilled blue-collar workers."
He added that there is a shortage of "electricians, fiber technicians, and mechanical tradespeople needed to build and maintain AI data centers."
He pointed to a new initiative from Meta Platform Inc. (NASDAQ:META), which is launching a $115 million "America's Workforce Academy."
The program will offer paid training and job guarantees.
Sacks described it as "the kind of practical jobs training program that we need more of."
Meta Launches AI Workforce Training
Meta announced a $115 million America's Workforce Academy to train workers for data center construction and operations, offering free training, credentials and job pathways.
Pilot programs were planned for 2026 in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Texas.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the U.S. would need "hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople" as AI infrastructure grows.
The initiative came as Meta increased its long-term AI-related infrastructure spending, part of a broader $600 billion investment plan over three years.
Ford CEO Warns On Labor Shortage, AI Job Shift
Last year, Ford Motor Co. (NYSE:F) CEO Jim Farley said the U.S. faced a major shortage of skilled technicians, with more than a million job openings and thousands of unfilled roles at Ford despite strong wages.
He warned that weak investment in training was deepening workforce gaps and could impact manufacturing and defense.
He also said AI would reshape the labor market, arguing white-collar jobs were more at risk than skilled trades.
Farley said AI could replace "literally half of all white-collar workers," while increasing demand for technicians who build and maintain physical infrastructure.
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo: Golden Dayz / Shutterstock
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