CNBC
The blue-collar AI job market is booming. Will data center backlash make it go bust?
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Data center construction has created jobs for HVAC, plumbing, welding, and electrical workers in recent years. Multiple states have imposed new restrictions or slowed permitting for data center projects, citing concerns about energy consumption and environmental impact. The extent to which these regulatory changes will affect blue-collar employment in data center construction remains unclear.
Original reporting: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/26/blue-collar-jobs-ai-data-center-backlash.html
