A few weeks after a wave of layoffs, Meta announced a training program for skilled workers in AI data center construction. The initiative, called “America’s Workforce Academy” (AWA), is aimed at veterans, young professionals, college graduates and career changers from all US states. No previous knowledge is required.
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Meta plans to invest $115 million in the first year and cover all costs, including training, travel, accommodation and a daily stipend. The program includes five weeks of training and guarantees graduates a job on a meta-data center construction site. For the implementation, Meta is working with the real estate service provider CBRE and the US construction association Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).
The pilot program will begin in 2026 in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Texas. “Hyperion”, one of the largest meta-data centers, is to be built in Louisiana. According to Meta, the campus will be so large that it could cover a large portion of Manhattan.
The initiative builds on Meta’s Fiber Optic Technician LevelUp program announced in April. According to Meta, 35,000 applications were received in the first seven days.
Between job cuts and construction site boom
The group is investing heavily in AI data centers and plans to spend up to $145 billion on infrastructure this year. To finance these expenses, Meta cut around 8,000 jobs in May, which corresponds to around ten percent of the workforce. At the same time, paid AI services will open up new sources of income in addition to the advertising business in the future and cushion the high investments.
Meta President Dina Powell McCormick compares the construction of AI data centers in a blog post to previous US infrastructure and industrial projects such as the electrification of rural regions and defense production in World War II. The need for skilled workers is not limited to Meta. According to ABC estimates, the US construction industry will need to add around 349,000 additional workers in 2026 to meet expected demand.
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What remains unclear, however, is what will happen to the workplaces after the data center construction is completed. Meta points out that the participants receive recognized qualifications from the US construction industry, which should also enable them to switch to other employers.
(tobe)
