Meta invests $115 M in US training program for data‑center skilled trades

Meta announced the launch of the America’s Workforce Academy, a $115 million initiative aimed at training thousands of American workers for skilled‑trade jobs needed to build and operate AI data centers. The free, four‑week program will be offered in Indiana, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas, providing certifications in trades such as electrical, welding, plumbing and fiber‑optic installation, and guaranteed job offers from contractors on Meta’s infrastructure projects. The effort responds to a projected shortage of hundreds of thousands of construction workers as AI‑driven data‑center construction booms across the United States. Meta reported more than 35,000 applications in the first week, underscoring strong demand for non‑degree pathways into high‑paying trades. Partners include the National Urban League, the Associated Builders and Contractors and local chambers of commerce.

Meta’s move follows broader industry concerns that a lack of skilled labor could become a bottleneck for AI expansion, with analysts estimating a need for roughly 350,000 additional construction workers this year. The company’s investment reflects an attempt to secure the workforce needed for its competitive AI infrastructure strategy while providing economic opportunities in regions identified as data‑center hubs.