After power and water strain, US data centers run into new problem

America's AI data center boom has slammed into an unexpected wall: a severe shortage of skilled workers. Contractor backlogs have surged sixfold while electricians and HVAC technicians stay scarce. From Texas to Arizona, data centers are poaching tradespeople with $40-an-hour wages, delaying home repairs and construction. With a projected shortfall of nearly 500,000 workers, this labor crunch could slow AI infrastructure for years.