en.Wedoany.com Report on Mar 23rd, While the impact of artificial intelligence technology on employment is often debated, the development of AI infrastructure is currently generating a substantial number of local jobs. Josh Pitcock, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at Oracle, points out that modern AI data centers are complex technology campuses requiring skilled workers across multiple fields, including construction, operations, and support services.
Josh Pitcock stated: "When people imagine an AI data center, they often think of a building filled with machines and ask, 'Do people actually work there?' That's a reasonable question. The answer is yes. And there are many of them. There are thousands during the construction phase, and typically over a thousand people per site as operations commence, develop, and evolve." Oracle is actively investing in AI data centers in the United States, with several large campuses under development or in operation. These facilities support generative AI systems and enterprise cloud applications running on high-performance GPU clusters.
During the construction phase, large-scale AI facilities require extensive construction work. Oracle's campuses in New Mexico and Wisconsin are each expected to create approximately 4,000 construction jobs, many of which will be filled by local union labor. Since March 2024, the campus in Abilene, Texas, has involved over 8,000 construction workers. Other projects, such as the Michigan campus, require 2,500 to 3,000 construction positions, and the Shackelford site in Texas is projected to support around 5,000 jobs. These construction activities also drive demand for local suppliers and service providers, stimulating community economic activity.
The operational phase continues to provide employment opportunities. Oracle's campuses in Michigan, New Mexico, Texas, and Wisconsin are expected to have nearly 8,000 operational positions. Josh Pitcock emphasized that data center technicians are only one part of the team, which also includes facilities engineers, security personnel, and logistics specialists. He said: "Modern AI data centers are not just server warehouses; they are advanced technology campuses that power enterprise cloud applications and generative AI systems running on high-performance GPU clusters." Operations also support secondary employment in surrounding communities, such as transportation and food services.
To cultivate the workforce, Oracle has launched training programs. The Data Center Oracle Path Trainee program provides hands-on training, with the first cohort in Abilene exceeding expectations. The company has also partnered with Saint Martin's University to offer a 12-week training program for veterans on servers and cloud applications. Furthermore, Oracle Academy invests in educational initiatives to help students learn skills such as cloud infrastructure. Josh Pitcock said: "AI infrastructure supports businesses, hospitals, schools, and governments across the country. As demand for AI and cloud services grows, so does the need for a skilled workforce to operate and maintain it." These initiatives are creating career pathways within the AI data center industry.
