Where employers are struggling to find talent, what they’re investing in, and how to position yourself to benefit.

Amazon says it will invest $1 billion over the next five years in the communities where it operates data centers.

And a big piece of that money is going toward something the industry desperately needs: workers.

Through its new Built Together initiative, Amazon plans to expand education and skilled-trades training in data center communities, including pathways in:

The company says the education initiative will reach more than 300,000 students over five years, with programs designed to reduce or eliminate the cost of earning certificates and associate degrees.

Amazon is also dramatically expanding its hands-on training footprint.

Its Modular Training Centers offer 4-to-16-week skilled-trades programs with pathways to employment. Amazon plans to grow the network from 3 training centers today to 25 by the end of 2028, with each center expected to train roughly 2,000 to 4,000 people per year.

That matters because the data center workforce shortage is no longer theoretical.

Companies are spending billions building new facilities, but electricians, HVAC technicians, fiber technicians and other skilled workers have become one of the constraints on how quickly those facilities can actually get built and operated.

Now the companies creating that demand are increasingly paying to create the workforce, too.

Amazon also disclosed something that is surprisingly difficult to find in data center announcements: actual operations employment.

In Madison County, Mississippi, Amazon says its data center operations employ more than 1,700 permanent workers, alongside approximately 2,300 construction workers.

In Newton County, Georgia, Amazon reports approximately 400 permanent operations employees, along with roughly 1,500 construction workers.

Those numbers are worth paying attention to.

Data center projects are frequently described as producing enormous numbers of construction jobs but relatively few permanent jobs once construction ends. Amazon's numbers show why that conversation needs more context.

A mature data center operation can employ substantially more people than the "about 100 permanent jobs" figure often attached to individual project announcements.

It also highlights an important distinction for anyone considering a data center career.

Construction jobs and operations jobs are two different employment markets.

Electricians, pipefitters, HVAC workers and other tradespeople may move from project to project as facilities are built.

Operations technicians, logistics workers, network technicians and other employees may remain at a facility long after construction crews leave.

Understanding which side of the industry you're entering matters.

Amazon isn't the only hyperscaler putting money behind workforce development.

Microsoft has two Datacenter Academies operating in metro Atlanta, at Atlanta Technical College and West Georgia Technical College.

Through the Microsoft Scholars program, eligible students can receive scholarships covering 100% of tuition, fees and certification testing for the duration of their program.

Students can work toward certifications including CompTIA A+, Server+ and Network+ while receiving training connected to areas such as data center operations, networking, cybersecurity, cloud and systems management.

There is already at least one notable outcome.

Atlanta Technical College student Cody Jackson, a Microsoft Scholar, has received an offer to work for Microsoft as a logistics technician.

For people trying to break into the industry, that is the part worth watching.

The biggest data center companies aren't just saying they need workers anymore.

They're starting to pay to train them.

DCCN is tracking these programs, including who qualifies, what training they provide, what they cost and whether they lead directly to employment.

Because if companies are willing to pay for the skills this industry needs, job seekers should know exactly where those opportunities are.

If you're interested in getting into data centers through one of Microsoft's training programs, start here:

→ See more data center jobs in Thursday’s Jobs Drop.

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Especially if they work in electrical, HVAC, utilities, controls, construction, commissioning, engineering or critical facilities.

DCCN is building a career network for the people powering the data center industry.