With the rapid spread of AI, there are growing concerns that Generation Z will find it difficult to secure jobs. Particularly, white-collar jobs at entry-level positions, such as simple office jobs or junior developers, are under threat.
However, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, emphasized that “the reality is different.” In a Channel 4 news interview in the UK on September 30th, he stated, “The AI boom is rapidly increasing the number of data centers, and we need hundreds of thousands of electricians, plumbers, and carpenters.”
Jensen Huang added, “The demand for skilled technical labor will more than double every year, and young people who choose technical schools over universities are the ones who will seize new opportunities.”
The data center boom is opening up a $7 trillion market. Nvidia recently announced a collaboration with OpenAI to invest $100 billion in the development of AI semiconductor-based data centers. Global consulting firm McKinsey predicts that by 2030, the global investment in data centers will reach $7 trillion.
Building a single data center requires about 1,500 workers. A significant portion of these are skilled technical personnel, such as electricians, welders, and plumbers, and a degree is not a necessity. In the U.S., some skilled workers reportedly earn over $100,000 annually. Once completed, about 50 permanent staff maintain and manage the facility, and a single job can spur additional employment within the community.
Jensen Huang’s comments align with concerns expressed by other global business leaders. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, mentioned last March that “there is a shortage of electricians needed to build AI data centers,” warning of a labor shortage due to a decline in immigrant workers and young people’s aversion to technical jobs.
Jim Farley, CEO of Ford, also stated, “The government is pushing for the reshoring of manufacturing and advanced industries, but we lack the workforce to support it.” He warned that plans to strengthen the supply chain could be hampered by a shortage of 600,000 manufacturing workers and 500,000 construction workers in the U.S.
In Korea, similar implications can be drawn for the youth. As the job landscape shifts in the AI era, technical professions like electricity, plumbing, and construction are garnering more attention than software development or office jobs. With an aging population and labor shortages in construction and facilities in Korea, a similar trend is likely to occur.
Experts say, “We are approaching an era where technical proficiency, rather than a college degree, becomes the key criterion for job opportunities,” emphasizing the need for young people to reconsider career choices and achieve a new balance.
