US data centers drive economic growth and wage increases

Data center investment in the United States has surged, with $68 billion invested in the last year as of June. This rapid expansion is driving a significant demand for skilled labor, including electricians, refrigeration technicians, and masons. To maintain operations, major technology companies are offering wages approximately 42% higher than the industry average to attract these workers.

According to economist Jason Furman, information processing equipment and software, such as servers and data centers, accounted for 4% of the US GDP in the first half of 2025. This sector contributed 92% of the growth recorded over the last year. Without the artificial intelligence boom, US economic growth might have been lower, but other sectors would likely have seen different interest rates and electricity prices. Pew Research Center has identified more than 3,000 operating centers in the US, with over 1,500 new centers currently in development.