AI: Job Killer...Or Job Creator?

For years, people have been screaming, “AI is coming for your job!” like it’s the Terminator and you're John Connor. And that has, indeed, been happening a lot (boo), especially for white collar workers. But an interesting plot twist is becoming very apparent now: AI is accidentally creating tons of new jobs! Turns out, robots might be smart, but they still can’t swing a hammer. 

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Here are Five Fast Facts on jobs created by AI:

1. 👷 If You Build It - The US Bureau of Labor says we've added 33k new construction jobs last month, and a lot of this growth came from building AI data centers, which are basically giant robot brains that need humans to build them.

2. ⚡ Power Up - AI data centers need tons of electricity - 200 gigawatts! We don't really understand how much that is, except that it's enough to send 165 DeLoreans back in time. It's also nearly double current levels, meaning more workers are needed to build more power plants and cooling systems just to keep AI from overheating.

3. 🗺️ Location, Location, Location - Trade workers in AI hotspots are getting paid 7.1% higher wages overall than trade workers in other areas. Some, like plumbers and pipefitters, earn up to 20% more because AI needs lots of pipes, cooling, and infrastructure. Yes, the AI revolution depends on plumbers!

4. 💪 Got Skills? - Job growth in skilled trades rose 25-28% in areas building AI infrastructure. Basically, if robots had LinkedIn accounts, their top skill endorsement would be “Needs humans.”

5. 🧱 Nice Wall You Got There - Drywall installers are making bank, growing 112% faster in AI hotspots. Even HVAC workers saw job growth 41% faster because AI servers need constant cooling or they’ll melt down like ice cream in Arizona.

🔥Bottom line: So while AI is taking some job sectors by storm, it’s also creating a massive boom in others that require actual humans. The robots may be smart, but their homes don't build themselves! And it takes a LOT of construction to build data centers that need the equivalent of the power used by several small countries to enable ChatGPT to answer questions you could Google yourself for free.

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Anyway, If you're looking for work, or a change, it would be wise to think about a trade job. The demand is there, the pay is spiking, and ironically, the robot takeover requires a lot of humans.

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Have you thought about switching to a trade job?

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