There's a lot of discussion right now about the growth of data centers, and for good reason. While certain segments of commercial construction have slowed, data center construction continues to grow at a remarkable pace.
According to the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC), data center construction spending increased more than 73% over the 12 months ending in August 2026, including a 7.5% increase in August alone.
Those are some pretty significant numbers, particularly when you consider what's happening across other areas of commercial construction.
But here's what I find interesting. It's not just the number of projects being built. It's how this growth is changing the market for experienced construction professionals, and potentially creating opportunities for people who have never worked on a data center project.
Over the past several weeks, I've had a number of conversations with construction professionals that really highlight what's happening in this market.
It's Still Construction. So What's Different?
I was recently talking with an experienced construction professional who brought up an interesting question. He was seeing more and more opportunities for data center projects, but many employers were specifically asking for previous data center experience.
His question was pretty straightforward. If you've spent your career building large, complex commercial or industrial projects, why wouldn't that experience translate into building a data center?
And I think that's a fair question.
At the end of the day, you're still constructing a building. You've got concrete, structural steel, subcontractors, schedules, budgets, safety requirements, and all the things that come with managing a major construction project.
But there is an important difference.
When a company tells me they need someone with data center experience, what they're often really looking for is someone who understands complex mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems.
Think about what's inside these buildings. You've got significant electrical infrastructure, backup power systems, cooling systems, and equipment that needs to operate continuously and reliably.
The systems are often far more complex than what you might find in a traditional commercial office building or warehouse.
And getting those systems properly coordinated, installed, tested, and commissioned requires a different level of technical knowledge.
The real question employers should be asking isn't always whether someone has built a data center. It's whether they've successfully managed the types of complex systems that make these projects work.
The Competition for Construction Talent Is Getting More Intense
The latest labor market data supports what we're seeing in recruiting.
According to the 2026 AGC/NCCER Workforce Survey, among contractors that worked on data center projects:
58% reported increased competition for skilled workers.
49% reported additional wage pressure.
37% identified worker or subcontractor availability as their biggest challenge in pursuing or delivering these projects.
That's significant, particularly when you consider that some contractors in other sectors are actually reducing headcount.
We're seeing employers compete for many of the same experienced Project Managers, Superintendents, MEP specialists, and construction leaders.
And this competition isn't limited to the companies building data centers.
When an experienced electrical or mechanical professional moves into a mission-critical project, that creates another opening somewhere else. The contractor they left still needs to replace that person.
I recently had a conversation with a construction professional who was being approached by multiple recruiters. What was interesting was that several of those conversations were about electrical infrastructure and data center opportunities, even though his own career interests were in another area of construction.
That's a good example of how this sector is reaching beyond its traditional talent pool.
Where Are the Opportunities?
The growth is happening across several major markets, including areas where we've historically seen strong commercial construction activity.
According to CBRE's North American Data Center Trends report, Atlanta surpassed Northern Virginia in data center capacity under construction during the first half of 2026. Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, and Chicago also remain significant markets.
For construction professionals, this creates opportunities in a number of different disciplines.
Some of the positions and skill sets that I believe will continue to benefit include:
Project Managers and Senior Project Managers who can lead complex projects, manage subcontractors, control budgets, and maintain schedules.
Superintendents and General Superintendents with strong field leadership skills and experience coordinating multiple trades.
MEP Managers and Superintendents who understand complex electrical distribution, mechanical systems, cooling infrastructure, and commissioning.
VDC and BIM Professionals who have hands-on experience with 3D coordination, clash detection, and resolving conflicts between the trades before installation.
Estimators and Preconstruction Leaders who understand complex project scopes, equipment procurement, cost escalation, and the risks associated with long construction schedules.
There are also opportunities on the development side.
In another recent conversation, a construction development professional described the work involved in evaluating potential data center locations, including zoning requirements and determining whether a site could support the necessary electrical infrastructure.
That's another important piece of this growth. Before anyone starts pouring concrete, developers need to know whether the project can actually be supported by the available power infrastructure.
And that brings an entirely different set of professionals into the equation.
Do You Need Data Center Experience to Make the Move?
I don't necessarily think so.
Certainly, there are positions where direct experience in mission-critical construction is going to be extremely important. If you're managing major electrical installations, mechanical infrastructure, or commissioning activities, the technical requirements matter.
But I also believe there are construction professionals working in healthcare, manufacturing, aviation, industrial construction, and other complex commercial sectors whose skills could transfer very well.
I've talked with professionals who have managed major industrial facilities, coordinated sophisticated process equipment, and overseen extremely complicated mechanical systems.
Those experiences shouldn't automatically be discounted simply because the candidate hasn't built a data center.
In fact, one of our recent candidate conversations involved a professional who had been working on data center projects since the early 2000s, long before the current wave of hyperscale development.
It was a good reminder that data centers aren't new. What has changed is the size, technical requirements, and pace at which these facilities are being developed.
For anyone considering moving into this sector, I would encourage you to think about your transferable experience.
Have you managed complex MEP installations? Have you coordinated highly specialized subcontractors? Have you worked on projects with strict operational requirements, complicated equipment installations, or significant commissioning activities?
If the answer is yes, you may have more relevant experience than you think.
Employers May Need to Rethink How They're Hiring
This is where I think the industry has an opportunity to approach things a little differently.
I've spent a significant part of my career working with construction companies to identify and recruit experienced leaders. One of the challenges I regularly see is the tendency to build a candidate profile around someone who has already done the exact same job, for the exact same type of company, on the exact same type of project.
Certainly, there are times when that makes sense.
But when an entire industry is experiencing rapid growth, and the available talent pool is already limited, employers may need to broaden their thinking.
Instead of focusing exclusively on previous data center experience, consider the underlying skills that make someone successful.
Can this individual lead a complex project? Do they understand MEP coordination? Can they manage subcontractors, solve problems, develop teams, and keep a project moving?
Just as important, are they willing and capable of learning the technical requirements that are unique to mission-critical construction?
I'm not suggesting that employers lower their standards. Quite the opposite.
I think the focus should be on identifying the skills that truly matter rather than simply matching previous project types.
And for those companies willing to invest in training and development, there's an opportunity to build a pipeline of talent that can grow with the organization.
What Does This Mean for Your Construction Career?
If you're a construction professional thinking about your next career move, I believe the data center market is worth paying attention to.
But don't make a career decision simply because a particular sector is growing or because someone is offering a bigger paycheck.
As with any opportunity, take the time to understand the company, the role, and what that experience will mean for your career three or five years down the road.
A few questions I would encourage you to ask:
What types of projects will I be working on, and how much of the work is already under contract?
What technical experience will I gain that makes me a more valuable construction professional?
What are the expectations around travel, relocation, and project schedules?
What does the total compensation package look like, including bonuses, allowances, and benefits?
Most importantly, what opportunities will this experience create for me in the future?
Data center construction can provide exposure to complicated projects, sophisticated building systems, and some of the largest construction programs in the country.
That experience can absolutely be valuable. But it needs to make sense for your career and your personal situation.
The Bottom Line
I don't believe the data center boom is simply creating a new category of construction jobs.
It's changing the way contractors compete for talent and opening doors for experienced construction professionals who may have spent their careers in other sectors.
For employers, the challenge is going to be finding the right balance between technical experience, leadership ability, and transferable skills.
For construction professionals, the opportunity is to recognize how the experience you've already gained might position you for a different type of project and potentially the next chapter in your career.
And I think we're going to continue seeing this play out well into 2027.
At ECP, we work with construction professionals and contractors across the country, helping connect experienced people with opportunities that make sense for their long-term career goals.
Whether you're considering a career move or trying to build your construction leadership team, we're always happy to have a conversation.
Explore our current construction opportunities at www.ecprofessional.com/jobs.
