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Skilled-Trades Shortage Delays Homes, Costs Builders $10.8B

8/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Homebuilders report a skilled-trades shortage as AI data-center projects lure workers away.
The shortage now totals about 300,000 workers, delaying residential construction.
Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta plan over $300 billion AI data-center spending in 2025.
Kelly Services finds data-center workers earn 25-30% higher wages than home-building trades.
The shortage costs homebuilders $10.8 billion annually and prevents roughly 19,000 homes from being built.

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Story summary

Homebuilders report a skilled-trades shortage as AI data-center projects lure workers away.
The shortage now totals about 300,000 workers, delaying residential construction.
Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta plan over $300 billion AI data-center spending in 2025.
Kelly Services finds data-center workers earn 25-30% higher wages than home-building trades.
The shortage costs homebuilders $10.8 billion annually and prevents roughly 19,000 homes from being built.