NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang Says 'A Lot' of Six-Figure Construction Jobs Unlocked by AI Centres Boom

For years, a computer science degree served as a surefire route to the upper middle class, but as AI automates the coding jobs that once offered stability, the lucrative field is transitioning from software to steel. The next generation of wealthy professionals likely won't be data scientists behind screens. Instead, they will be wearing hard hats, tool belts, and high-visibility vests.

According to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, this revolution is about to unleash unprecedented demand for skilled tradespeople. Speaking at Davos, he argued that the massive physical infrastructure needed to power AI, including data centres and cooling grids, cannot be built by algorithms. These lucrative careers belong to the plumbers, electricians, and steelworkers who will physically construct the future.

The £5.2 Trillion Infrastructure Build-Out

The scale of construction required to support the next era of technology is difficult to comprehend. Tech giants are currently racing to construct sprawling data centres that will form the backbone of the AI economy. Huang estimates that this global capital outlay will reach a staggering $7 trillion (£5.2 trillion) by the end of the decade. He describes this as the 'largest infrastructure build-out in human history'.

This construction boom is not just about pouring concrete; it requires complex, high-tech tradecraft. Building these facilities calls for specialised construction techniques. They require advanced liquid cooling systems to stop massive server farms from overheating, along with intricate electrical work to handle the huge power loads. Consequently, people who possess the skills to build these 'AI factories' are becoming the most sought-after workers in the economy.

'It's wonderful that the jobs are related to tradecraft, and we're going to have plumbers and electricians and construction and steelworkers,' Huang said in conversation with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink.

Why £75,000 Salaries Are Just the Start

The disconnect between the supply of skilled tradespeople and the demand created by this tech boom is driving wages up significantly. Many of these roles already pay over $100,000 (£75,000) a year, and they do not require the crippling student loan debt often associated with four-year degrees. Huang is optimistic that this shift will democratise access to high incomes.

'Everybody should be able to make a great living,' Huang said. 'You don't need a PhD in computer science to do so.' A report by McKinsey estimated that between 2023 and 2030, the US alone will need an additional 130,000 trained electricians, 240,000 construction labourers, and 150,000 construction supervisors. As the industry scrambles to fill these positions, wages are likely to climb even higher, making a career in the trades potentially more lucrative than many white-collar professions.

CEOs Warn of a Critical Skills Shortage

Whilst Huang sees opportunity, other business leaders see a crisis. The push to funnel students into universities has left the manual workforce dangerously depleted. Ford CEO Jim Farley has been vocal about this imbalance, warning that the obsession with four-year degrees has hollowed out the workforce needed for a manufacturing revival.

'There's more than one way to the American Dream, but our whole education system is focused on four-year [college] education,' Farley said at the Aspen Ideas Festival last year. The number of tech companies hiring entry-level workers has decreased by 50% since 2019. 'Is that really where we want all of our kids to go? Artificial intelligence is going to replace literally half of all white-collar workers in the US.'

Farley noted that by last summer, the US was already short 600,000 factory workers and 500,000 construction workers. This shortage poses a genuine threat to the speed at which AI infrastructure can be deployed.

The Electrician Bottleneck and Energy Crisis

BlackRock's Larry Fink has echoed these concerns, specifically highlighting the electrical industry as a major bottleneck. The US Bureau of Labour Statistics predicts that electrician jobs will grow by 9% over the next decade, but that may not be enough to keep pace with the energy-hungry demands of AI data centres. Without enough skilled electricians to wire these facilities, the AI revolution could literally run out of power.

'I've even told members of the Trump team that we're going to run out of electricians and that we need to build out AI data centres,' Fink said to an audience at CERAWeek. 'We just don't have enough.' As companies continue to pour billions into AI development, the message is becoming clear: the most valuable tool of the future might not be a keyboard, but a wrench.