Meta Commits $115 Million to Train Data Center Workers, Guarantees Jobs
Meta is launching America's Workforce Academy, a five-week training program that will prepare workers for data center technician roles with guaranteed employment upon completion. The company is covering all costs-tuition, housing, and a daily stipend-for participants at no charge.
Meta is investing $115 million in the program this year and partnering with commercial real estate firm CBRE, the Associated Builders and Contractors trade association, and the National Urban League. The academy will pilot in Baton Rouge, Columbus, Indianapolis, and Houston.
No prior experience is required. The program accepts recent graduates and career changers alike. Graduates earn an industry-recognized National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) credential and an America's Workforce Certificate.
Data center technicians earn an average salary of $54,031, according to ZipRecruiter. Meta did not disclose how many people it plans to train or the salary ranges of guaranteed contractor positions.
Why Meta Is Doing This
Meta plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. data center development by 2028. The company currently operates or is building 27 data centers. The infrastructure push requires hundreds of thousands of skilled workers-electricians, mechanics, fiber technicians, and other trades.
"America needs hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople," said Rachel Peterson, Meta's vice president of data centers. "This program creates clear, accessible pathways into those careers."
Meta's push into trade worker training aligns with the Trump administration's focus on a "blue-collar resurgence." The administration has invested more than $229 million in grants to train registered apprentices and aims to train more than a million workers.
CEO Mark Zuckerberg has maintained close ties with President Trump, including serving on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The two have discussed Meta's data center expansion.
Meta has also framed workforce development as a competitive necessity. "Without these workers, we can't compete with China," said Dina Powell McCormick, Meta's president and vice chairman, in a recent statement.
Building on Earlier Programs
America's Workforce Academy expands on Meta's LevelUp fiber technician training program, announced in April. The four-week LevelUp program received 35,000 applications for 1,000 openings in its first week and is expected to start this summer.
Fiber technicians earn an average salary of $57,818 nationally. The Fiber Broadband Association estimates that 180,000 additional fiber construction and technical workers are needed over the next decade to meet demand for federal and state infrastructure projects.
Broader Industry Trend
Meta is not alone in betting on trade jobs. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is investing $100 million to train 50,000 plumbers, electricians, and HVAC technicians over five years.
"America needs an estimated $10 trillion in infrastructure investment by 2033," BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said in March. "Capital alone is not enough-people are central to building our nation's future."
For construction and real estate professionals, understanding how large employers like Meta approach workforce development can inform hiring strategies and partnership opportunities. Learn more about AI for Real Estate & Construction and how technology shapes industry operations, or explore AI Learning Path for Operations Managers to optimize large-scale project delivery.
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