The Growing Demand for Datacentre Professionals
The datacentre industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for cloud services and artificial intelligence technologies. However, the sector faces significant challenges in recruiting and training skilled workers to meet its expanding needs.
Billy Keeper, a 24-year-old electrical supervisor at Datalec Precision Installations, represents a success story in the industry. Starting as a labourer straight from school, he now manages teams of up to 40 people installing electrical systems in datacentres. Just five years ago, he knew nothing about these critical technological infrastructure facilities.
Datacentres are massive warehouse-like buildings that host computer equipment for major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Facebook, as well as other organizations requiring specialized computing infrastructure. The industry has seen explosive growth, with European datacentre floorspace expected to increase from 6 million to over 10 million square feet between 2015 and 2024.
The sector faces multiple recruitment challenges. Dame Dawn Childs, CEO of Pure Data Centres Group, highlights the difficulty in finding skilled construction workers. Datacentre work is highly specialized, requiring precise engineering and structured approaches that differ from traditional construction projects.
The Construction Industry Training Board predicts the UK needs to recruit 50,300 extra workers annually for the next five years. Several factors contribute to this shortage:
1. Increased focus on university education at the expense of technical and apprenticeship routes
2. More career options for young people, including technology and social media careers
3. An aging workforce in traditional construction and technical industries
Companies are developing strategies to address these challenges:
– Schneider Electric has doubled its apprentice intake
– Focusing on diversity and reflecting community demographics
– Offering career pathways with clear purpose and mission
The industry is also emphasizing the broader impact of their work. As Dame Dawn Childs notes, datacentres are “serving the whole population” and can play a crucial role in achieving net-zero emissions goals.
Experienced professionals in the field can earn significant rewards, with electrical installers potentially making six-figure salaries. However, the work demands precision, with strict timeframes and multiple testing requirements for each piece of equipment.
The biggest initial hurdle remains helping potential recruits understand the importance of datacentres. As Billy Keeper humorously points out, when he tries to explain cloud services, people often look up at the sky, not understanding the complex technological infrastructure behind modern digital services.
The datacentre industry represents a critical and growing sector, offering exciting career opportunities for those willing to learn specialized skills and contribute to the technological infrastructure that powers our digital world.
