AI Drives Data Centre Boom, Worker and Technician Wages Reach Rp1.5 Billion

Jakarta, VIVA – The development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the global labour market. Amid concerns that AI is replacing office jobs, data centre construction is creating numerous new opportunities for technical and blue-collar workers.

Recent reports indicate that the surge in AI data centre construction in the United States has driven significant demand for construction workers, data centre technicians, electricians, HVAC specialists, and facility maintenance staff.

Technology companies are pouring substantial funds into building new data centres to support growing AI computing demands. McKinsey estimates US investment in data centre construction could reach $7 trillion (Rp124.6 trillion) by 2030.

Currently, there are approximately 4,000 active data centres in the US, with a further 3,000 facilities announced or under construction, according to Apollo Global Management.

Although AI is beginning to eliminate some white-collar jobs, data centre construction is creating large-scale new employment opportunities, particularly in construction. However, experts note that most of these roles are temporary, as the primary focus is on the facility construction phase.

‘They are actually staffed by very few workers,’ said Revelio Labs CEO Ben Zweig regarding data centre operations, as quoted by CBS News on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Revelio Labs chief economist Lisa Simon also stated that permanent workforce numbers at data centres are relatively limited. ‘The long-term roles created by data centres are not particularly large in volume,’ she said.

‘They are projects that are far more capital-intensive than labour-intensive.’

Nevertheless, the economic impact of data centre construction is still considered significant for local areas. Brookings Institution labour expert Greg Wright said the construction of such facilities can boost local economies as construction workers require hotels, food, and other services during the project.

‘When construction companies bring in workers to build these facilities, they need to stay in hotels and eat. Therefore, data centre construction can create employment impacts for the local economy,’ Wright added.