AI Data Center Boom Fuels Electrician Demand, Drawing Gen Z With Hourly Pay Above NT$1,000

Generative AI is driving a wave of data center construction in the United States, increasing demand for electrical work, wiring and equipment maintenance. Yet the supply of skilled tradespeople remains inadequate, with an estimated shortage of 300,000 electricians over the next decade. Compared with white-collar jobs that could be displaced by AI, electrical work offers steady income and gives Gen Z a career path that avoids heavy student debt.

Recent reports show that AI data centers have pushed electricians’ hourly pay to $59.50, or about NT$1,875. Some data center jobs in Texas could pay as much as $280,000 a year. The high salaries are attracting young people to skilled trades, although some workers say that servicing large AI facilities can boost their income while leaving them conflicted about the value of the work and the industry’s impact.