Some Electricians Believe Constructing Data Centers Is a Sellout Move

As Big Tech invests billions into the expansion of America’s data centers, numerous opportunities are surfacing for electricians involved in wiring these enormous facilities.

The magnitude of these projects and their tight deadlines are creating competition among the industry’s top talent. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), based in the US, asserts that its members are “powering the AI Revolution,” and a set of “Data Center Principles” released in March emphasizes the necessity of union labor for the AI future. To keep pace, tech companies are taking initiatives: Meta has launched a skilled trade academy program, while Google has pledged $50 million to train individuals in skilled trades.

However, as national resistance to data centers grows, discussions regarding the ethics of this extensive buildout are emerging within various online communities.

On r/electricians, a subreddit with about half a million monthly visitors, threads discussing AI’s economic impact are becoming frequent. Some members are apprehensive that such work might lead to significant job losses, while others are conflicted about whether their roles contribute to harm in local communities or if accepting data center jobs is unethical. For some, the answer is a decisive no. They contend that work is work.

One electrician from the Midwest shares that he has stopped disclosing his profession to others.

As a “single guy trying to date,” he confides to WIRED that revealing his occupation often diverts or halts conversations entirely. He recalls several occasions when people commented on “how terrible it is that you’re contributing to something like that.”

“That’s usually the last time you hear from them,” he reflects. (This electrician, like several others who spoke to WIRED, requested anonymity as he is not authorized to talk to the media.)

He has concerns, primarily regarding the rise of scams and how “corporate greed” might jeopardize workers. Yet, he specifically sought employment at a data center, even willing to accept a lower salary to begin with. He recognized a unique opportunity for career advancement—he was hired as an electrician and quickly elevated to a management position. He aspires to eventually shift into an engineering role.

“I saw it as, ‘Well, this is likely going to be a significant part of our future. And if you can’t beat them, join them,” he remarks.

Another electrician, Ryan, states he has never worked at a data center and likely never will. “I believe world governments, not just our own, are drifting more towards right-wing and fascist ideologies,” he tells WIRED. He harbors distrust for corporations operating under these conditions, viewing executives like Elon Musk and Alex Karp as “suspicious at best.”

Ryan believes that if AI were meant for altruistic purposes, the situation would be different. Instead, he perceives it as “four or five AI companies just trading money amongst themselves.” He also expresses worries about the AI bubble.

As an IBEW member, Ryan has some control over his job choices—he can accept or decline assignments offered by the union. He mentions that his branch occasionally presents small jobs for local data centers, which he finds easy to bypass. Even if he faced a lengthy period without work, he would still find it “really tough to want to take that job call.” (He would also refuse other assignments he considers unethical, such as those at private prisons.)