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WASHINGTON — As artificial intelligence accelerates across industries, the United States may face a shortfall of 140,000 skilled trade workers by 2030, according to a new report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). The study, authored by Navin Girishankar and Karl Smith, warns that the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure—data centers, cooling systems, and power grids—will require a surge in electricians, HVAC technicians, and welders.
The report, titled GenAI’s Human Infrastructure Challenge, highlights a growing disconnect between technological ambition and workforce readiness. While AI development garners billions in investment, the physical backbone supporting it depends on trades often overlooked in national policy and education planning.
Experts urge federal and state governments to prioritize vocational training, certification programs, and immigration pathways to meet demand. Without intervention, the labor gap could delay critical infrastructure projects and hinder U.S. competitiveness in the global AI race.
Source: CSIS – GenAI’s Human Infrastructure Challenge—Can the United States Meet Skilled Trade Labor Demand Through 2030?
