Tech Companies Enlist Colleges to Help Them Train Data Center Workers
Technology companies are partnering with community colleges and universities across the country to train workers for data center operations. In Wisconsin, Microsoft launched a Datacenter Academy at Gateway Technical College after opening a data center in Mount Pleasant, while Amazon, Google and Oracle support similar programs elsewhere.
As data center construction expands across the United States, technology companies are working with colleges to build a workforce capable of operating and maintaining the facilities after construction jobs decline. Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Oracle are among the companies supporting programs that train students in server maintenance, hardware, facilities operations and related skilled trades.
Gateway Technical College in Wisconsin launched a Microsoft Datacenter Academy, offering certificate courses and scholarships. The program coincides with Microsoft's opening of its first data center in the Village of Mount Pleasant in Racine County and construction of a second facility. Similar partnerships include Amazon-supported training in Ohio and Oregon, Oracle Academy programs in New Mexico and a Microsoft program at Northern Virginia Community College.
The programs are promoted as a way to create accessible, well-paying careers and increase local benefits from data center development, although experts caution that students should consider whether rapidly changing technology could make some skills obsolete.