Building trades unions emerge as a key ally of tech giants in push for AI data centers
Building trades unions are emerging as key allies to tech giants in the development of AI data centers, employing unionized workers on massive projects and recruiting new apprentices to meet demand. Unions are helping counter community opposition and hostile legislation, while benefiting from the construction boom with growing membership and training programs.
Building trades unions are becoming intertwined with tech giants as they develop America's artificial intelligence economy. Unionized workers are employed on numerous massive data center projects, with unions recruiting new apprentices to meet explosive demand. The unions are echoing tech giants' talking points on the national security importance of AI, countering community opposition and hostile legislation. Data center construction is booming, with unions expanding training centers and seeing their ranks grow rapidly. The North America's Building Trades Unions reported a record number of members and apprentices in 2025, attributing growth to data centers and related infrastructure projects. Tech giants, including OpenAI and Google, are partnering with unions on training programs, with some saying they need to train hundreds of thousands more workers in skilled trades.
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