In contrast to concerns that AI is threatening office jobs, demand is rising quickly in the United States for skilled trades such as electricians, welders and plumbers amid a data center construction boom.

CNBC reported on Aug. 26 that competition is intensifying to secure field technicians as investment expands in AI data centers and the power grids, substations, cooling and piping facilities that support them. Maria Flynn (마리아 플린), chief executive of Jobs for the Future, said apprentices can earn $40,000 to $60,000 a year, and experienced electricians can make more than $100,000.

ZipRecruiter data showed the average minimum salary listed in job postings related to data centers jumped 125.1 percent from a year earlier to about $208,000. It said high-paying specialist engineering roles were a major factor lifting the average. Job postings tied to welders and plumbers also rose 164 percent from a year earlier.

Change is also showing up on the ground. Southeastern Hose, an industrial hose company in Georgia, increased its workforce by 40 percent over the past 18 months as demand rose for piping components for data centers. Some specialised welding work requires additional on-site training even for vocational school graduates.

Opposition to data center expansion is also growing. A Gallup survey showed 71 percent of Americans opposed building AI data centers in their area. Data Center Watch said more than 75 projects worth about $130 billion were halted or delayed in the first quarter alone due to local opposition.

Texas has suspended permitting for new data centers, and New York has put a one-year hold on new development of mega data centers. An analysis said demand for skilled trades is unlikely to fall sharply in the short term because many projects have already been approved or have started construction.