Story perspectives

BLS Projects 35,800 Electricity Jobs From Data-Center Demand

By Drooid · Oct 26, 2026, 3:36 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

U.S. firms announce data-center projects creating thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions.
Amazon’s Mississippi investment will add 2,250 construction jobs and 750 full-time roles.
Microsoft plans a Pecos, Texas data center that could support over 6,000 peak construction jobs.
The BLS projects 35,800 new electricity-related jobs through 2035 from data-center demand.
Gallup finds 70% of Americans oppose a data center in their community.

History

Historical Context

In 1999, the dot-com boom triggered a nationwide data-center construction surge, delivering roughly 45,000 new technology jobs by 2001. IBM’s $1.2 billion New York campus opened in 2000, employing 12,000 workers during its build-out and cementing industry momentum. Today, Amazon’s Mississippi investment adds 2,250 construction jobs and 750 full-time positions, while Microsoft’s Pecos, Texas center could support over 6,000 peak workers. Echoing past backlash, Gallup reports 70% of Americans now oppose local data centers, urging policymakers to balance growth with community consent.

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Story summary

U.S. firms announce data-center projects creating thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions.
Amazon’s Mississippi investment will add 2,250 construction jobs and 750 full-time roles.
Microsoft plans a Pecos, Texas data center that could support over 6,000 peak construction jobs.
The BLS projects 35,800 new electricity-related jobs through 2035 from data-center demand.
Gallup finds 70% of Americans oppose a data center in their community.

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