Here’s what the data center boom means for Wisconsin’s workforce

Wisconsin Watch interviewed three professors to analyze the workforce implications and economic ripple effects of data center developments across Wisconsin communities. Data center jobs are categorized into three phases: development, construction, and operations. The construction phase typically generates the highest number of jobs, often an order of magnitude more than the operational phase, but these roles are largely temporary. Liang noted that these initial jobs involve developers, engineers, designers, and a large workforce of skilled laborers like electricians and plumbers. Operational jobs, while fewer, are critical for maintaining the facilities. Adams described these as 'unglamorous' but essential roles, including maintenance workers, security guards, and data center technicians who handle server installation, hardware replacement, and system monitoring. These positions often have relatively low barriers to entry, though specialized expertise is required. The total number of jobs created depends on the data center's size; for instance, Microsoft's Mount Pleasant development initially employed 3,000 for construction, with 500 full-time operational jobs expected, a number projected to grow as more centers are built at the site. Experts also acknowledged that many construction workers might be non-local due to temporary high demand, and measuring the broader economic ripple effects on local businesses, though positive, remains challenging.