Data Centres, AI, and the New Trades Boom: Where Construction Talent Is Heading Next

The AI boom isn’t just happening online; it’s triggering a surge in physical construction. Data centres are being built at record pace across the UK and US, driving demand for new skills and labour strategies. In this article, Jamie Trevett unpacks what this means for contractors, why hyperscale is reshaping the labour market, and how smart firms are adjusting before they’re priced out.

Data centres used to be a niche sector. Something a few big firms quietly did in the background while the rest of the industry focused on housing, offices, and infrastructure.

Now? It’s the frontline of where the work is going.

The global AI race is fuelling an explosion in demand for digital infrastructure. According to CBRE, North American data centre supply grew 43 percent year-on-year in the second half of 2024. That’s over 6,900 megawatts of active construction, with less than 1 percent vacancy in key markets like Northern Virginia and Atlanta.

In the UK, places like Cambridge, London, and Oxford are drawing hyperscale investment fast, especially in the corridor known as the Golden Triangle. Regional contractors are already feeling the pinch as larger firms swoop in with talent and compliance-ready teams. (DataXConnect)



And this isn’t going away. The AI infrastructure race is just getting started.

The build specs are different, and so is the labour!

Most contractors are used to sequencing houses, offices, or roads. They’re familiar with standard power installs, everyday MEP coordination, and basic access controls.

Data centre work demands a totally different playbook.

We’re talking:

• Heat-mapped environments with cleanroom requirements.
• Substation builds inside tight programme windows.
• Immersion-cooled rack install and cable tray precision.
• Redundant power and cooling systems that need experienced leads.



According to JLL, AI-driven infrastructure builds are already pushing hyperscale demand past 10 GW globally, with the majority going into North America and Western Europe. These projects need electricians, HVAC engineers, fit-out leads, and site managers who know how to work under real pressure.

Who’s getting hired?

We’re seeing a shift in what roles are being requested and who’s landing them.

In high demand:

• Electricians with data infrastructure and generator install experience.
• Dryliners and mechanical teams with cleanroom credentials.
• Site managers who’ve worked on power corridors or high-compliance MEP.
• Project managers who can coordinate trades across complex phasing.

On the radar:

• Labourers familiar with hyperscale safety protocols.
• Fit-out specialists who understand cooling infrastructure.
• Cable installers with fibre and immersion rack exposure.



If you haven’t worked on a data centre before, you’re already one step behind.

The risk of waiting

We’ve spoken with firms who waited until the tender dropped before thinking about labour. By then, they were too late.

Their bid teams had great pricing. Great programme. But no crew lined up.

The result? Lost contract. Lost pipeline. Lost trust.



In this space, labour availability is a differentiator. Contractors who can say “we’ve already got the team scoped” are winning more work, even when they’re not the cheapest.

What the best are doing differently

The top contractors aren’t guessing where the work is going, they’re following the data. They’re tracking AI infrastructure pipelines. They’re watching local planning approvals for grid upgrades. They’re building internal databases of talent who’ve delivered hyperscale projects before.

Some are even partnering with regional players to secure labour benches in advance, knowing they’ll need boots on the ground within weeks.



And crucially, they’re adjusting their recruitment language. Instead of asking for “general foreman,” they’re asking for “data centre-experienced fit-out supervisor.” That level of clarity matters.

Final Take

AI infrastructure is not a trend. It’s the next big vertical in construction, and it’s already here.



If your workforce strategy is still tuned to residential or high street commercial, you’re going to miss the biggest hiring opportunity since modular first took off.

Get ahead of it. Know who you need. And start securing those crews before someone else does.