{"id":1315264,"date":"2026-03-19T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-19T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/?p=1315264"},"modified":"2026-03-18T13:38:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T18:38:00","slug":"wisconsin-data-center-boom-workforce-jobs-economy-development-construction-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-center-boom-workforce-jobs-economy-development-construction-operations\/","title":{"rendered":"Here\u2019s what the data center boom means for Wisconsin\u2019s workforce","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><b>Reading Time: <\/b><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 5<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>\n<details class=\"wp-block-details is-layout-flow wp-block-details-is-layout-flow\"><summary>Click here to read highlights from the story<\/summary>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Jobs for data centers happen in three phases: development, construction and operations.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The largest numbers of workers are on site when a data center is being built, experts said.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The number of long-term jobs a data center brings depends on the size of the facility.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It\u2019s difficult to measure the ripple effects data centers have on the economy; however, experts say local businesses can benefit from producing components and products for data centers.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Data center technicians will be in high demand as more facilities come online.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n<p>As data center developers stake out land in Wisconsin communities, much debate has surrounded whether the computer-packed warehouses will deliver economic benefits locally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Waves of opposition and concerns about land, water and electricity use routinely follow data center proposals, while supporters echo that the centers will create jobs and help the economy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But what jobs? How many of them? And will they last?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To answer those questions, Wisconsin Watch talked to three professors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/stpp.fordschool.umich.edu\/faculty\/xiaofan-liang\">Xiaofan Liang<\/a>, who specializes in urban and regional planning at the University of Michigan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/economics\/about\/directory\/adams-scott\/\">Scott Adams,<\/a> a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee labor economist.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/business\/directory\/alexander-dijo\/\">Dijo Alexander,<\/a> who specializes in information technology, digital transformation and artificial intelligence at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some takeaways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What kinds of jobs do data centers bring?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Data center jobs fall into three major categories that represent phases in their creation:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Construction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Operations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>A data center first needs people to plan for its existence. Developers, engineers, designers and planners lay that groundwork.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe data center industry as an ecosystem is pretty big \u2026 When they first introduce a data center to a place, they have to figure out the design standard, how to construct all kinds of facilities, how it connects to city systems,\u201d Liang said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, developers must hire heaps of hands-on laborers to construct the gigantic warehouses from the ground up \u2014&nbsp;the largest portion of workers needed in creating and operating a data center. Among other professions, this includes electricians, plumbers and pipefitters, carpenters, structural steel and iron workers, concrete workers and earth drillers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1707&#038;quality=100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"An aerial view shows a large construction site with cranes, heavy equipment and materials surrounded by snow-covered fields and intersecting roads.\" class=\"wp-image-1315117\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=336%2C224&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=782%2C521&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 782w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=140%2C93&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1365&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C520&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C267&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C471&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?w=370&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Laborers and construction workers are needed in high numbers to build data centers like this one in Beaver Dam, Wis., experts said. (Joe Timmerman \/ Wisconsin Watch) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The job boom from early phases fizzles out once the building is complete, Liang said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c(During) construction time, you usually have a lot more jobs \u2014 maybe 10 times in magnitude more so than operations,\u201d Liang said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Operations jobs, fewer in quantity, are largely \u201cunglamorous,\u201d Adams said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of these roles have relatively low barriers to entry, such as maintenance workers and security guards. Meanwhile, electricians and HVAC workers are needed, considering that power and cooling are data centers\u2019 \u201ctwo most important inputs,\u201d Adams said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adams echoed a popular analogy likening data centers to warehouses full of rotting bananas that need constant cooling and replacing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cYou need banana technicians, more or less, that take the rotted bananas out and replace them with new bananas,\u201d Adams said. \u201cNow, granted, they&#8217;re much more expensive bananas in there, and they&#8217;re doing a whole lot, and it requires a little more expertise. But again that expertise, by and large, can be developed pretty quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Those workers will be data center technicians \u2014 people who install servers, replace hardware and cables, monitor systems and notice when things break down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How many jobs do data centers bring?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The number of jobs created depends on a data center\u2019s size, Liang said.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That can initially mean thousands of jobs at gargantuan developments like in Mount Pleasant. Microsoft says it has employed 3,000 people to construct the location, compared to 500 full-time workers once the plant is operating. But these numbers are expected to climb as the company <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2026\/01\/26\/microsoft-wins-approval-for-15-data-centers-at-wisconsin-foxconn-site.html\">constructs a cluster of additional centers<\/a> at the site.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all of these workers will be local. Given the temporary high demand, the projects will likely need out-of-town construction laborers who travel to the area and don\u2019t stay long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-2 show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"1315264\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>more on data centers<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1315129\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-data-centers tag-news tag-statehouse tag-wisconsin-watch category-data-centers-watch type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-center-secrecy-ndas-nondisclosure-agreements-communities-scrutiny\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"More than NDAs. Wisconsin communities face scrutiny over data center secrecy.\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asse20260202-Beaver-Dam-Data-Center-Timmerman-002-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-center-secrecy-ndas-nondisclosure-agreements-communities-scrutiny\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">More than NDAs. Wisconsin communities face scrutiny over data center secrecy.<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1314737\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-data-centers tag-news tag-statehouse tag-wisconsin-watch category-data-centers-watch category-economy type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-centers-business-growth-economy-companies-power-impact\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Data centers fuel $1 billion in Wisconsin business growth, but some question long-term impact\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-centers-business-growth-economy-companies-power-impact\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Data centers fuel $1 billion in Wisconsin business growth, but some question long-term impact<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-2 show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"1315264\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1314078\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-data-centers tag-energy tag-news tag-public-service-commission-of-wisconsin tag-wisconsin-watch category-data-centers-watch category-forward category-government type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/02\/wisconsin-public-service-commission-data-center-boom-utilities-power-energy\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Data center boom spotlights Wisconsin\u2019s Public Service Commission. Here\u2019s what the agency does.\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asseData-Center-NDAs3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/02\/wisconsin-public-service-commission-data-center-boom-utilities-power-energy\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Data center boom spotlights Wisconsin\u2019s Public Service Commission. Here\u2019s what the agency does.<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1313453\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-data-centers tag-news tag-statehouse tag-wisconsin-watch category-data-centers-watch category-forward category-government type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/01\/wisconsin-data-center-secrecy-deals-nda-nondisclosure-agreement\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseData-Center-NDAs1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/01\/wisconsin-data-center-secrecy-deals-nda-nondisclosure-agreement\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">At least four Wisconsin communities signed secrecy deals for billion-dollar data centers<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>Smaller projects will employ far fewer people. For a typical data center, Microsoft estimates it hires about 50 full-time employees. What those numbers mean for the local area depends on the community\u2019s size.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn a bigger city, like Atlanta, it&#8217;s like a drop in the ocean, right? It doesn&#8217;t really affect much,\u201d Liang said. \u201cIn a rural area, in a smaller town, hundreds of jobs \u2026 are a big deal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What about the trickle-down economic benefits?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A sizable new employer entering communities could ripple across other nearby industries, though Liang notes this is hard to measure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c(A data center) just has such a big infrastructure need that trickles down in many different ways,\u201d Liang said. \u201cNow we need expanded utility infrastructure, grid, fiber, water, all these things. Construction of these infrastructure, even though it&#8217;s not directly related to (a) data center, could increase local employment in those areas.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inside a data center are \u201ccabinets after cabinets of steel frames holding computers\u201d that need to be built, Alexander said. This can boost local manufacturing, especially the metal fabrication industry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wisconsin manufacturers have already begun cashing in on the construction boom nationwide. As <a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-centers-business-growth-economy-companies-power-impact\/\">Wisconsin Watch previously reported<\/a>, just three Wisconsin companies alone have amassed more than $1 billion in equipment sales \u2014 such as motors, generators and cooling systems \u2014&nbsp; to data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"782\" height=\"440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3.jpg?resize=782%2C440&#038;quality=100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"A person in a red plaid shirt stands in a warehouse aisle, extending an arm and hand toward plastic wrap around large boxed equipment, with stacked pallets behind the person.\" class=\"wp-image-1314740\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=782%2C440&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 782w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=336%2C189&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=140%2C79&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1152&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1125&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=780%2C439&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 780w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C225&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-scaled.jpg?resize=706%2C397&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/asseET-with-generators-3-782x440.jpg?w=370&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8220;The data center market is booming,&#8221; says Chief Operating Officer Erik Thompson of Modular Power &amp; Data, who is shown in Cudahy, Wis., Feb. 25, 2026. He is standing next to rows of switchboards, which will be used to help power data centers. On the day of Wisconsin Watch&#8217;s visit, 42 of the switchboards were set to be sent out. (Trisha Young \/ Wisconsin Watch)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Massive developments like Microsoft\u2019s in Mount Pleasant can potentially lead to a \u201ctech corridor,\u201d a cluster of warehouses and manufacturers near the data center they serve, Alexander said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIf we take the initiative and if we bring a few big enough component manufacturers, we can create locally created components for these data centers to consume,\u201d Alexander said. \u201cIt\u2019s like if you have a big restaurant or food manufacturer here, you will have agriculture around there, because it is easy for you to bring your produce for their consumption. Just like that. \u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The trend could also activate industries like nuclear power, Adams said. Building data centers&nbsp; in conjunction with nuclear reactors to generate their power would fuel even more construction and energy jobs, he added. In Kewaunee County, an energy company wants to <a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2025\/10\/wisconsin-nuclear-power-plant-station-kewaunee-county-energy-economic-growth\/\">rebuild Kewaunee Power Station, a defunct nuclear power plant,<\/a> anticipating energy demand from AI and data centers.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-2 show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"1315264\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>more from wisconsin watch<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1309946\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-kewaunee-county tag-kewaunee-power-station tag-new-news-lab tag-news tag-nuclear tag-wisconsin-watch tag-work category-pathways-to-success type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2025\/10\/wisconsin-kewaunee-county-nuclear-power-plant-station-work\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Here\u2019s what the return of nuclear power to Kewaunee County means for Wisconsin\u2019s workforce\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/asse20250916-Kewaunee-Power-Station-Timmerman-009.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2025\/10\/wisconsin-kewaunee-county-nuclear-power-plant-station-work\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Here\u2019s what the return of nuclear power to Kewaunee County means for Wisconsin\u2019s workforce<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1313860\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-employment tag-jobs tag-news tag-wisconsin-watch tag-work category-pathways-to-success type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/02\/wisconsin-job-centers-work-employment-training-workforce-development\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Looking for work? Here\u2019s how Wisconsin\u2019s job centers will help you for free\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/asse20260202-Job-Centers-Timmerman-014-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/02\/wisconsin-job-centers-work-employment-training-workforce-development\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Looking for work? Here\u2019s how Wisconsin\u2019s job centers will help you for free<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha is-grid columns-2 colgap-2 show-image image-alignleft ts-2 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"1315264\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1308933\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-employment tag-news tag-wisconsin-watch tag-work tag-workers category-pathways-to-success type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2025\/09\/wisconsin-job-work-wage-future-data-charts-employment\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"The future of work in Wisconsin, in six charts\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/asseWind-turbines.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2025\/09\/wisconsin-job-work-wage-future-data-charts-employment\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">The future of work in Wisconsin, in six charts<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"1313549\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-education tag-higher-education tag-news tag-student-loan tag-wisconsin-watch category-pathways-to-success type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/01\/wisconsin-6-tips-for-avoiding-student-loan-debt-default\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium size-newspack-article-block-landscape-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"6 tips for avoiding student loan default\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/asseCutStudentDebt.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/01\/wisconsin-6-tips-for-avoiding-student-loan-debt-default\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">6 tips for avoiding student loan default<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>In more rural communities or near smaller data centers, the trickle-down effects could prove more modest \u2014&nbsp;perhaps a few new restaurants and housing units, Adams said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alexander also noted the effects could also be less concentrated, with growth spilling into neighboring cities as employees work at the center but live elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But will enough permanent jobs be created to sustain the growth sparked during the early labor-intensive development phase? That\u2019s unclear, Adams said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe don&#8217;t have a firm enough grasp about the indirect effects in the longer term,\u201d Adams said. \u201cShort run, that&#8217;ll be great. Longer run, can we sustain the new development that might happen around these? I don&#8217;t know the answer to that. I think if the power generation side of it comes in connection with them, there&#8217;s more of a chance that that will work.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who are data center technicians?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Data center technicians are perhaps the most novel job introduced by the data center boom. The roles are more specialized than others needed inside the warehouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Job postings for data center technicians at Microsoft\u2019s Milwaukee location say the workers will be &#8220;preparing, installing, performing diagnostics, troubleshooting, replacing, and\/or decommissioning equipment under the guidance of more experienced data center colleagues.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The posting states the job requires a high school diploma, knowledge of computer hardware and some experience with IT equipment. Pay for lower-level technicians ranges from $23 to $36 per hour, with more experienced workers making up to about $48 per hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Adams said likely candidates will include engineers and computer coders and people now entering college with their sights on data center work. Microsoft and Gateway Technical College in Kenosha launched a \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gtc.edu\/programs\/certificates\/it-microsoft-data-center-certificate\">Data Center Academy,<\/a>\u201d preparing students to work in data center operations. Adams believes partnerships like this will become more common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are these good jobs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use the interactive table below to explore many of the jobs data centers are expected to create, including wages, employment totals and required education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-table\" data-src=\"visualisation\/27865856\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/visualisation\/27865856\/thumbnail\" width=\"100%\" alt=\"table visualization\" \/><\/noscript><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"782\" height=\"646\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=782%2C646&#038;quality=100&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1279368 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=782%2C646&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 782w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=336%2C278&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=140%2C116&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=768%2C634&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=1536%2C1269&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=2048%2C1692&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=1200%2C991&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=1568%2C1295&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 1568w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1.png?resize=400%2C330&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wisconsinwatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/WCIJ_Logo_Stacked_FullColor_RGB-1-782x646.png?w=370&amp;quality=100&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 782px) 100vw, 782px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsinwatch.org\/\">Wisconsin Watch<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0is a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.wisconsinwatch.org\/subscribe\">newsletters<\/a>\u00a0for original stories and our Friday news roundup. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Wisconsin Watch spoke to three professors to find out how many jobs and what types of work data centers bring to communities, what the economic trickle-down effects of data centers are and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":1314,"featured_media":1314742,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"gigafact_has_fact_brief":false,"gigafact_remote_fact_brief_post_id":0,"gigafact_remote_sync_timestamp":"","gigafact_remote_sync_status":"","gigafact_remote_sync_response":"","gigafact_has_been_published":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"large","newspack_post_subtitle":"Wisconsin Watch spoke to three professors to find out how many jobs and what types of work data centers bring to communities, what the economic trickle-down effects of data centers are and more.","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[19429,19064],"tags":[19400,2799,368,3656,3617,3423],"partner":[],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"type-of-work":[],"coauthors":[19133],"class_list":["post-1315264","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-data-centers-watch","category-pathways-to-success","tag-data-centers","tag-economy","tag-jobs","tag-news","tag-wisconsin-watch","tag-work","entry"],"fact_brief":null,"apple_news_notices":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","canonical_url":"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/03\/wisconsin-data-center-boom-workforce-jobs-economy-development-construction-operations\/","smart_links":{"inbound":0,"outbound":0},"traffic_boost_suggestions_count":0,"meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"Here\u2019s 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