Even as companies rush to invest in the artificial intelligence (AI) boom, the U.S. economy lacks enough skilled trades workers to train, implement, and sustain the physical underpinnings of the new technology, according to data from Randstad USA.

Skilled trades workers are both the engine and the bottleneck for AI-powered growth. That’s because scaling up AI requires vast physical infrastructure, from data centers and energy systems to automated production facilities.

Specific job description in short supply include many of the critical roles required to build those very data centers. Between 2022 and 2026, skilled trades in the U.S. saw explosive growth:

• Robotics Technicians: Vacancies skyrocketed by 113.19%.
• HVAC Engineers: Demand rose 77.89%.
• Industrial Automation: Increased by 51%.
• General Trades: Demand for electricians, welders, and construction specialists grew by an average of 30%, significantly higher than the broader market.

Those statistics mean that it is now more difficult and time-consuming to hire an HVAC professional and an electrician than a software developer. The average time-to-hire for a skilled trades worker has reached 56 days, surpassing the 54-day average for desk-based professionals, Randstad said.

And even when skilled workers are being hired, their numbers are losing ground to the wave of retiring baby boomers. In manufacturing, for every 100 young workers entering the trade sector, 102 are exiting, which is equivalent to an annual decline of 1.72%, the report said.

"While much of the conversation surrounding AI focuses on job displacement, we're overlooking the demand it’s creating for the skilled trade workforce," Greg Dyer, CCO of Randstad North America, said in a release. “AI can't build data centers, upgrade power grids, or maintain its own infrastructure. Because the demand for skilled trades is evolving into highly specialized, digital-first work, leaders must reposition skilled trades as a top-tier career track. Leaders must prioritize investments in education, upskilling, and training, or the AI-fueled growth we seek will stall."