Meta is partnering with North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) to expand the pipeline of skilled workers needed to build and maintain America’s rapidly growing AI infrastructure.
The partnership, announced Wednesday, will give Meta access to NABTU’s network of apprenticeship and training programs while helping connect skilled trades workers with Meta projects across the U.S.
"The Meta partnership with North America’s Building Trades Unions means avenues of communication are open, access to our recruitment and training pipeline of skilled craft will become available and we'll be able to deploy craft on an as-needed basis to Meta projects anywhere across America," Sean McGarvey, president of NABTU, told FOX Business.
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Demand for skilled trades workers has grown rapidly as tech companies invest in data centers and other infrastructure needed to power AI.
McGarvey said the demand is being felt across a range of trades, including HVAC technicians, laborers, operating engineers and others.
NABTU represents more than 3.2 million skilled craft professionals in the U.S. and Canada through an alliance of 14 national and international unions.
Its unions and contractor partners operate more than 1,900 apprenticeship and training facilities across North America and invest more than $3 billion annually in training and education, according to the announcement from Meta.
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NABTU has roughly 300,000 people enrolled in its registered apprenticeship system, according to McGarvey, who added that number could grow significantly.
"We currently have that 300,000, and we can ramp that up to a million, based on demand," he said.
Meta President Dina Powell McCormick said skilled trades workers will be critical to building the infrastructure needed for the U.S. to compete in AI.
"We are so proud to work with NABTU on this partnership," Powell McCormick said in a statement. "I have had the privilege of working with President McGarvey since I took on this new role, and we are excited to work together on skilled trades.
"This is an important moment, and these men and women of the skilled trades are building the American infrastructure needed to ensure America’s values lead the AI race globally."
The agreement comes as Meta expands its investment in U.S. infrastructure and workforce development.
The tech company said the partnership builds on its Future Is For Everyone Fund, which is aimed at investing in communities, including teachers, first responders and energy and water infrastructure.
McGarvey said the jobs created by the AI boom could last well beyond the initial construction of data centers because the facilities will need regular upgrades.
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"The need for skilled craft on a constant basis in these digital facilities is ongoing long after initial construction is complete," he said.