Dycom Industries constructs simulated town to address data centre skills shortage

Dycom Industries is constructing a 49-acre simulated training facility in Monroe, Georgia, designed to prepare unskilled workers for roles in data centre construction and maintenance. The project, which broke ground in April, is scheduled to open in mid-2027. The initiative aims to address a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, a bottleneck exacerbated by the AI boom and increased demand for data centre infrastructure.

The facility will allow new hires to practice trade skills in a realistic setting before entering the workforce. Dan Peyovich, CEO of Dycom, stated the goal is to make skilled trades as attractive to young people as college, citing the example of "the kid playing XBOX at home on his couch." This effort comes as demand for skilled trades grows three times faster than for desk jobs, creating intense competition for labour across the sector.

Dycom, which acquired data centre contractor Power Solutions in 2025, is leveraging this acquisition to bolster its workforce. In its Q3 report, the company highlighted that the Power Solutions deal added substantial skilled labour capacity to its operations. To further attract talent, Dycom is offering new hires two weeks of paid vacation from day one, a benefit designed to compete with traditional employment paths.

The labour shortage is impacting employers of all sizes. Scotty Wristen, owner of WE Electric in Abilene, noted that small firms are struggling to retain staff against larger data centre builders offering higher pay and benefits. Wristen has shifted to hiring apprentices straight out of high school, acknowledging the initial training period involves significant time and cost as new workers learn the trade.

Industry-wide, big players are also building their own pipelines to secure talent. Carrier Global Corporation launched an initiative in 2025 to hire over 1,000 service technicians and train 100,000 more, following the 2024 launch of Carrier University. Meanwhile, a National Student Clearinghouse report found that enrollment in two-year colleges is growing faster than elsewhere, driven by trade majors such as Repair Technologies.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics underscores the financial appeal of these roles. The 2024 median wages for electricians and HVAC workers were $62,350 and $59,810 respectively, compared to a median wage of $49,500 across all careers. Most electricians undergo four to five years of apprenticeship, earning a percentage of journeyman wages while receiving paid on-the-job training.

Despite the challenges, more people are moving into trades. Enrolled apprenticeships have grown by 300,000 over the past decade. Dycom’s strategy reflects a broader industry push to convince the next generation that skilled trades offer a viable, high-paying alternative to traditional university education, with the Monroe facility serving as a key component of this long-term labour strategy.