Meta backs data center workforce training with $115M

Meta has announced a $115 million training program for data center technician jobs as it expands AI infrastructure. The company said America’s Workforce Academy will offer cost-free training and guaranteed job offers to graduates.

The program comes as Meta builds more data centers to support its AI systems. It also forms part of the company’s larger U.S. infrastructure and jobs plan.

Meta launches America’s Workforce Academy

According to Meta, the new program will train workers for data center technician roles. A Meta spokesperson said the training will cover general skills used by data center technicians. The spokesperson said graduates will receive full-time job offers with general contractors. Those contractors will work on Meta’s data center construction projects. Meta did not identify the contractors involved in the program.

The spokesperson also declined to say how many jobs will become available. Meta did not confirm whether the roles would include union positions. Associated Builders and Contractors, a construction trade group, expects to train thousands of people. The group said the program will run across the course of the initiative. Meta described the investment as part of its AI infrastructure workforce plan.

Dina Powell McCormick, Meta president and vice-chairman, linked the program to changing labor needs. “The AI revolution is bringing change but also historic opportunities,” she said. Meta said the academy will help prepare workers for technical roles tied to data centers. The company also said the program will remove training costs for participants. Graduates will then move into jobs connected to Meta’s buildout.

AI infrastructure spending drives hiring plan

Meta has pledged to invest $600 billion in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over three years. The $115 million training plan represents one part of that commitment. The company continues building large data centers to support CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s AI plans. Zuckerberg has described AI agents that can perform tasks for users. Those tasks include creating apps, booking appointments, and completing transactions.

Last year, Zuckerberg hired AI researchers from rival companies, including OpenAI. Reports said some offers included $100 million signing bonuses. More recently, Meta changed parts of its internal AI organization. The company cut about 10% of its workforce, or around 8,000 employees. It also reassigned many workers to units focused on AI models and tools.

The training plan comes as Meta needs workers for construction and technical support. Data center projects require large workforces during construction. They often create fewer permanent jobs after operations begin. Meta’s program focuses on technician training rather than software roles. The company said contractors will employ graduates in full-time positions.

Data center projects show job split

Meta’s Texas data center shows the difference between construction and operating jobs. The company broke ground on the site last year. The project could have more than 1,800 workers on-site during peak construction. However, the site expects about 100 permanent jobs once operational. The project ranks among the largest planned data centers in the United States.

Another Meta data center project in Oklahoma follows a similar pattern. The site expects more than 1,000 construction jobs at peak activity. It also expects about 100 operational jobs after completion. Those figures show how data center labor needs change after construction ends. Meta’s new academy focuses on preparing workers for roles tied to that expansion.

Meta did not provide a launch date for America’s Workforce Academy in the provided statement. The company also did not disclose the locations where training will begin. Associated Builders and Contractors said it expects thousands of trainees in the program. Meta said graduates will receive guaranteed job offers after completing training. The company has not named the general contractors that will hire them.