Who Will Build This Data Center Gold Rush—and Where Will They Live? Part One

As the world continues its digital transformation, the demand for hyperscale data centers has skyrocketed. From the massive server farms powering AI advancements to cloud storage hubs for Fortune 500 companies, data centers are the backbone of the 21st-century economy. 麦肯锡 predicts that the current total data-center-critical IT demand of 60 gigawatts will more than triple in the next five years. By 2027, the global data center market is projected to reach?$517 billion, growing at a CAGR of 10.5%. This unprecedented growth has spurred what some are calling the “Data Center Gold Rush.”

But there’s a pressing question that’s often overlooked in the race to digitize: Who will build it all? And where will they live while they do it?

Here are the simple facts:

• Hyperscale Data Centers are built in rural communities
• These projects are too large to rely on a local talent pool?
• These rural communities lack decent housing for out-of-state workers
• Man Camps used in oil and gas fields are wildly out-dated and subpar
• Living in hotels and motels for months detract from project attractiveness
• Subpar housing increases stress, which contributes to suicide in Construction?

As the Workforce Champion, a member of the US Proptech Council , and “status quo” challenger, I ask: What quality of housing is required to keep this traveling workforce healthy, both physically and mentally?

But, before we transition to “Big Ideas”, let’s set the stage for demand.

Who are the Big Names Behind the Biggest Announcements to Date

• Zuckerberg: We're building a Manhattan-sized data center
• Altman and Ellison: Stargate is the most important project of this era?
• O'Leary: WonderValley is single largest AI compute data center park on Earth

甲骨文 ’s Larry Ellison says we’re building 100 data centers globally during a 2024 earnings call with investors. Ellison stated the company is in the process of expanding 66 of its existing cloud data centers, and “We have to build 100 additional cloud data centers because there are billions of dollars more in contracted demand than we currently can supply. Cloud infrastructure demand is huge and growing at an unprecedented rate. In the next few weeks, we expect to sign a couple more billion-dollar cloud infrastructure contracts.”

“We're able to build new data centers rapidly and operate them inexpensively because all of our data centers are architecturally identical, highly automated, with an identical high-performance RDMA network, autonomous services, and applications,” Ellison added.

Ellison mentions nothing about a healthy talent pool and housing.?

Weekly Headlines read like this:

Amazon Web Services’ $650 million acquisition announced this year of a nuclear-powered 960-megawatt data center campus from Talen Energy.

Mark Zuckerberg says the new Meta data center in Richland Parish, Louisiana will support 2 gigawatts of capacity, create more than 1,000 indirect jobs, for a total of more than 1,500 potential new jobs in the Northeast Region. The company estimates 5,000 construction workers at peak of construction on the 2,250-acre former Franklin Farm and be "so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan," which Governor Jeff Laundry calls the investment a new chapter for the state.

Rich Miller , a highly respected authority on data centers for 25 years said in a LinkedIn post, “Back in the Days of Old, data centers were typically an IT closet or a room in an office building. When I started covering the sector in 2000, I often wrote that large data centers were the size of a Wal-Mart store, just to give readers some context. Just a few years later, I switched the comparator to an aircraft carrier. Now it's the island of Manhattan.”

“What next? In the age of $500 Billion MegaCampuses, we can only guess,” Miller said.

The Backbone of Data Center Construction: Skilled Trades

Behind every data center is an army of skilled tradesmen and women—electricians, pipefitters, HVAC specialists, welders, concrete workers, and more. These aren’t just jobs; they’re careers that require years of training and certification. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the construction industry will need to fill over 546,000 jobs by 2028 just to keep up with demand.

Data center construction is especially complex. These facilities must meet rigorous standards for energy efficiency, fire safety, and redundancy. Every worker, from the structural engineer to the apprentice electrician, plays a critical role in ensuring that these buildings can operate 24/7 without fail.

麦肯锡 reports “Data centers are big energy consumers—a hyperscaler’s data center can use as much power as 80,000 households do. Supply, both in generation and transmission, will take years to catch up under all but the most conservative scenarios. By 2028, utilities would need to increase annual energy generation by between 7% and 26% above the 2023 total to meet projected demand. That’s far beyond the largest five-year generation boost of about 5% that US utilities achieved from 2005 through 2023.”

Delivering on data center customers’ rapid timelines requires utilities to innovate and work differently. It will be imperative to engage stakeholders earlier in the process of building new generation, transmission, and distribution infrastructure and to leverage newer technologies (e.g., advanced conductors).

At Workbnb, we believe it’s time to leverage new advancements in workforce housing, workforce preparation, and workforce mental health.

The Housing Challenge

Despite the high stakes and lucrative opportunities, the old ways of housing these workers are failing. For decades, skilled tradespeople working on large-scale projects have been housed in motels, RV parks, or hastily assembled temporary housing—options that are often cramped, uncomfortable, and far from affordable.

"Man camps" are experiencing a decline primarily due to a combination of factors including increased environmental regulations, fluctuating energy prices, a shift towards renewable energy sources, and growing concerns about the social impacts of large-scale workforce housing, particularly regarding violence against indigenous communities near extraction sites; leading to fewer large-scale resource extraction projects that necessitate the creation of temporary "man camps" for workers.

A 2023 report revealed that construction workers on remote projects spend, on average, $1,200–$2,000 per month on subpar housing to avoid hotels, motels, and man camps, eating into their wages. Worse, employers still paid for hotels, motels, and man camps whether the employee uses it or not. Plus the lack of quality housing impacts morale and worker retention, slowing down critical projects.

The New Frontier of Workforce Housing

This is where the industry must innovate. Workbnb is aggressively leading the charge to reimagine workforce housing, creating environments that prioritize comfort, productivity, and dignity. Modular housing, container builds, and fully furnished accommodations tailored to the needs of skilled workers are emerging as game-changers, and Workbnb has found partnership in S.I. Container Builds, Inc. in Illinois to focus on workforce housing advancements and pilot a new model - WHaaS or Workforce Housing as a Service (more announcements including renderings will be made in Part Two).

For example, consider a 500-person crew building a hyperscale data center in a remote part of the Midwest. The nearest town has less than 6000 residents.? Traditional housing options might require workers to commute over an hour each way or settle for overcrowded roadside motels more than 60 years old or an Extended Stay America two hours away or construct a man camp with trailers. Modern workforce housing could offer on-site accommodations with high-speed internet, private rooms, and shared amenities, creating a home away from home, without having to buy, transport, and maintain the inventory. Workbnb is the original pioneer of workforce rental homes and “Deployables” are a new category that will make headlines in the near future by elevating project attractiveness.?

Why This Matters

This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about the future of the workforce. As younger generations enter skilled trades, their expectations for housing and work-life balance are higher than ever. Providing quality housing can be the difference between attracting top talent or falling behind in this race.

“Most companies are in defense mode,” says Alex Wakeland , a 15-year journeyman IBEW lineman and general foreman. Wakeland argues there is unique and untapped potential of data from traveling workers, which could provide unprecedented insights for analytics and research. With the right privacy frameworks and protections in place, this data could be leveraged responsibly to drive innovation and improve conditions for the workforce.

“Solutions like JNCTN helps employers organize and verify large data sets in real time, ensure compliance and qualifications without guesswork, and build trust with employees,” says Wakeland.

The Data Center Gold Rush isn’t just about servers and cooling systems; it’s about the people who make it all possible. If we fail to address their needs, the consequences will ripple through the economy. I discuss this in great detail with Workbnb, Inc | Techstars '22 ’s newest angel investor and the host of The Real Deal podcast Regan Sonnabend . Watch the full episode here on YouTube .

In the interview I say, “The seven most expensive words are we have always done it this way.” Let’s stop relying on outdated, patchwork solutions and start investing in housing that empowers workers and accelerates progress.

Because in this gold rush, people are the most valuable resource.

Prioritizing Worker Well-Being: Life Insurance and Mental Health

As the data center gold rush accelerates, the focus has rightly been on attracting skilled tradespeople to meet the demand. However, the conversation must also shift toward safeguarding their well-being—both physically and mentally. Construction workers face unique challenges, and addressing these head-on can significantly impact their productivity, job satisfaction, and overall quality of life.

The Case for Life Insurance and Better Rates for Essential Workers

Construction work, especially on complex projects like data centers, comes with inherent risks. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), construction workers account for 20% of all workplace fatalities, despite making up only 6% of the U.S. workforce. This startling statistic highlights the need for robust life insurance policies to protect workers and their families.

For skilled tradespeople who often move from one job site to another, traditional employer-sponsored life insurance is not always an option. Companies and contractors involved in these massive projects have an opportunity to stand out by offering portable, affordable life insurance benefits tailored to the unique needs of their workforce. Beyond being a safety net, it demonstrates a company’s commitment to its people.

Workbnb’s newest advisor, Anthony Ficarra , a Journeman Lineman turned Life Insurance agent says, “New group benefit solutions offer significant cost savings—typically 10-30% less than what businesses are currently paying. In many cases, we at PGAgency can even add additional coverages at no extra cost.”?

On the individual side, most hardworking blue-collar workers don’t have the time to understand designing personalized life insurance and tax-saving strategies. Whether it's setting up basic life insurance or implementing advanced solutions like Indexed Universal Life (IUL) policies for tax-free retirement and wealth accumulation from land passed down or dealing with an increase in pay.

Ficarra says, “I was a lineman for 17 years, so I get the it more than anyone and that’s why I’ve tailored financial solutions for clients at every level. I’ve also partnered with Thomas Barber, one of the most elite financial planners in the country, based out of New York City with Magnus Firm. He specializes in high-level tax mitigation and financial strategies for individuals and companies earning seven figures and above. Many people think they ‘have a guy,’ but they don’t have THE blue-collar guy—and that’s where we come in.”

ANTHONY FICARRA,?Enterprise Market Director

[email protected] | 630-688-8235?

Mental Health: The Hidden Crisis

The demanding schedules, long hours, and isolation that come with remote work can take a toll on mental health. A 2022 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that construction workers have one of the highest suicide rates of any industry, nearly four times the national average. This is a crisis that demands immediate attention.

Innovative companies and organizations are stepping up by integrating mental health resources into workforce housing and job sites. On-site counselors, teletherapy options, and mental health hotlines are becoming more common. Additionally, creating supportive environments—like high-quality housing with spaces for relaxation and recreation—can alleviate stress and combat loneliness.

Today, Workbnb is proud to announce we are partnering Joshua Vitale and the Built Foundation to explore new gaps in thinking about mental health. Here’s a statement from the Founder:?

I’m so grateful that you believe in what we’re doing at The BUILT Foundation, and I can’t thank you enough for helping us take the first steps on this massive journey. It’s no small thing to stand up and say, “This system isn’t working, and we need to do better.” But that’s exactly what you’re doing with Workbnb, and it’s exactly what we’re aiming to do with BUILT.

When we say Building Unity in Labor & Trades, we mean everyone. The folks in tool belts, yes, but also the architects, project managers, superintendents, truck drivers, warehouse crews, food service teams, and every single person who keeps this industry moving. And just as important, we mean their families. The partners, kids, parents, and loved ones who feel every ripple of stress, uncertainty, and exhaustion that comes home from the job site.

The way I see it, suicide isn’t the problem. It’s the final symptom. By the time we’re reacting to it, it’s like trying to treat stage-four cancer. We’ve already missed too many signs, too many chances to step in and help.

At BUILT, we’re tackling this crisis holistically. It’s not just about offering a hotline number or holding an awareness meeting. It’s about creating a cultural shift across the entire ecosystem of construction. A shift where a worker, a superintendent, or a manager feels safe saying, “I’m not okay,” and the people around them know how to respond. Not with discomfort or avoidance, but with action and support.

That’s where Workbnb plays such a critical role. Housing isn’t just a roof. It’s stability, security, and peace of mind. If someone doesn’t know where they’re sleeping next week or if they’re crammed into a loud, unstable motel for months on end, it doesn’t matter how many wellness resources we throw at them. They’re stuck in survival mode.

When we talk about Building Unity in Labor & Trades, we’re talking about building systems where people—all people—feel valued, supported, and connected. Job site to home, coworker to manager, physical safety to mental health. It’s all one big, interconnected web.

We’re raising $100k to kickstart the movement, building army of ambassadors, and partner with some of the most influential people in the space. More than 90% of every dollar raised will go to real work that will help thousands if not millions of our friends, family, and neighbors. The people that build our world and have been ignored and forgotten for too long.

I’m so glad we’re walking this road together. I can’t wait to see how our work aligns and evolves in the months ahead.

Let’s keep building.

Contact?Joshua Vitale, Founder/Exec Director, Chair CSPW & AZ Workplace Wellness

+13237411234

Why It Matters

When companies prioritize life insurance and mental health resources, they aren’t just checking boxes—they’re building trust and loyalty among their workforce. This focus on well-being also reduces turnover, improves safety, and enhances productivity, ensuring projects are completed on time and to a high standard.

For the skilled tradespeople driving the data center boom, these benefits are not luxuries—they’re necessities. If we truly value the workers building our digital future, we must prioritize their health, safety, and peace of mind.

Thank you for reading. The Workbnb, Inc | Techstars '22 movement continues!

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