I wrote the case in January: 7.3 million roles to fill by 2034, nearly half of skilled trades workers already out-earning the median college grad, and trades plus business acumen as the strongest career position.
Then in August I went back and asked the harder question. Data centers are finally paying trades workers what they're worth. Those same workers get paid once to build them, and then pay indefinitely through increased utility rates and contracted-out public infrastructure the build leaves behind.
The uncomfortable thing: both pieces are accurate.
I said I didn’t know if there was a ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, and that’s still true. But I think we should be having the discussion anyway.
Read the January case first. Then read the August warning.