U.S. data centres are emerging as a new career-switch destination for laid-off office workers in the technology industry.

Business Insider reported on Sunday local time that Carrie Charles (캐리 찰스), co-founder and CEO of staffing firm Broadstaff, said demand for data centre workers is rising rapidly as big tech companies expand AI infrastructure.

Hiring indicators also show an upward trend. Deloitte said data centre job postings increased 64 percent between 2023 and 2025. A survey by industry association Uptime Institute found 54 percent of data centre executives cited securing talent as the biggest obstacle. U.S. Census Bureau statistics also show U.S. data centre employment rose more than 60 percent from 2016 to 2023.

The fastest-growing demand is for onsite technical roles responsible for installing and maintaining equipment inside facilities. Charles said inquiries for hiring skilled electricians and data centre technicians, in addition to construction workers, have been constant. "Since the company was founded, we have never received this many calls," she said. "This market is on fire right now," she added.

The problem is the gap between hiring demand and job seekers. With the hiring market slowing across U.S. companies overall, job seekers looking only for office jobs are not fully seeing opportunities in data centres. Referring to situations in which people are laid off even in their 40s, Charles said, "There are tremendous opportunities here."

Companies are also expanding entry-level training to match the rapidly changing data centre technology environment. Uptime Institute operates a five-day data centre certification programme. "The key is how you position the capabilities you have," Charles said, explaining that operations experience, problem-solving skills, reliability management and customer experience skills are also transferable to the data centre sector.

Entry-level roles may pay somewhat less than typical office jobs. Charles said entry-level data centre employees earn $45,000 to $65,000 a year. She added that IT knowledge and certifications help, but companies place more importance on an attitude of "being able to do it" and a willingness not to shy away from small tasks.

Shift work is also a key condition. She explained that night shifts may be included, and whether someone will actually stay on site to work becomes a criterion for hiring decisions.

Moving up to more senior roles is relatively fast. Charles said that with a basic certification and a willingness to accept shift work, workers can reach an annual salary of $80,000 to $100,000 within 18 to 24 months.

For those seeking higher income, the licensed electrician track is also cited as an alternative. Broadstaff also runs an apprenticeship programme with electrical contractor Wachter, which carries out large data centre projects. The electrician track can take 4 to 5 years because it requires trade school training and multiple apprenticeships, but long-term rewards are bigger. Charles said senior electricians can easily earn more than $100,000 a year. With data centre-specific skills such as liquid cooling or fibre-optic cabling, she viewed annual pay of $200,000 to $300,000 as possible.

This trend is also linked to the outlook for future demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that electrician job openings will continue at about 81,000 a year through 2034. The electrician occupation is expected to grow much faster than many other jobs.

Expanding data centre hiring, combined with investment in AI infrastructure, is leading to a trend that makes people reconsider existing career paths centred on office work. Comparing going to law school in one's 30s or 40s with obtaining an electrician qualification, Charles said both involve a large initial burden but can offer high long-term returns. "To take one step forward, you may first have to take one step back," she said.