AI Needs Labor: The Future of Tech Rides on the Backs of Linemen

Generative AI is driving the next major tech revolution, but its rise is creating urgent demand for skilled lineworkers and energy professionals. Unlike earlier forms of artificial intelligence, generative AI can process massive amounts of data and create entirely new content—images, text, music, code, and more. Analysts estimate this technology could increase global GDP by nearly $7 trillion over the next decade and boost productivity growth by 1.5 percentage points (Goldman Sachs, 2025). Much of that gain will stem from the automation of tasks currently performed by humans, potentially eliminating up to 300 million full-time jobs globally (Goldman Sachs, 2025). Historically, however, major technological breakthroughs have also created new job opportunities, even as they render others obsolete. While the full impact of generative AI is still unfolding, one consequence is already clear: the energy demands required to support it will rise dramatically, placing a premium on skilled trades—especially lineworker careers—that generate and distribute that power.

Generative AI relies on large data centers to train and run its complex learning models, and these facilities consume enormous amounts of electricity. A single AI-powered search can use up to ten times more energy than a traditional internet query, and the energy draw increases significantly when generating media-rich content like images or video (Electric Power Research Institute, 2025). As more individuals and businesses turn to AI tools for productivity, demand for data centers is projected to grow by up to 22% annually, potentially leading to power shortages in some regions (Chui & Miremadi, 2024). Globally, data center energy consumption is expected to rise from 60 gigawatts in 2024 to 219 gigawatts by 2030, with the United States alone accounting for 55 gigawatts of that total (Srivathsan, Sorel, & Sachdeva, 2024).

For perspective, one gigawatt—equal to one billion watts—is enough to power roughly one million residential homes. With the writing on the wall regarding the skilled labor shortage needed to support this growth, the energy industry is frantically exploring all options to meet the rising demand. Tech companies are searching for regions with surplus power, but many are being turned away. For example, Silicon Valley Power turned away one tech company, stating it won’t be able to build the necessary infrastructure until the early 2030s (Hiller, 2024).

Meeting this explosive demand won’t happen without significantly expanding the country’s skilled labor force. Companies like Google recognize this and are investing $10 million in partnerships with National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), the Electrical Training Alliance (ETA), and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to bring 30,000 new electrical workers into the labor pool and provide enhanced training to another 100,000 (Green, 2025). The jobs needed to support this growth include electricians, construction workers, power plant operators, solar and wind technicians, and others. Among the most critical roles are lineworkers.

These professionals make it possible to deliver electricity from power plants to consumers through the grid of high-voltage transmission and local distribution lines. The problems with this rising demand are twofold: we’re already struggling to maintain and rebuild the aging infrastructure, and the current workforce is too small, exacerbated by a wave of retirements and a lack of new entrants into the trade. While challenging, these obstacles create tremendous opportunities for those pursuing lineworker careers in the energy sector.

Lineworkers are highly trained through pre-apprentice and apprenticeship programs, and they are well compensated with high pay and excellent benefits. Journeyman lineworkers can easily earn well over six figures annually and have the freedom to work anywhere in the country. With AI’s growth, the demand for reliable power and the people who maintain it will only increase. Lineworkers are not only key to keeping the lights on; they’re also first responders when disaster strikes. The future of AI isn’t possible without lineworkers, and companies across the U.S. are now competing to attract the top trade talent of today and tomorrow.

If you’re exploring future-proof careers that offer strong pay, purpose, and nationwide demand, becoming a lineworker may be the best decision you’ll make. Lineworker careers are essential to powering AI, data centers, and modern life—and the need has never been greater. While AI is expected to automate millions of jobs, it remains entirely dependent on the physical infrastructure and the skilled workers who keep the power flowing. Lineworkers are the unsung heroes of the AI era, enabling the data centers and networks that drive this revolution.

To take the first step into one of the country’s most essential and respected trades, contact NLC, the nation’s premier training institution for aspiring power professionals. The future may be digital, but it’s powered by the hands on the line – and your journey into that future can start today.

References

Chui, M., & Miremadi, M. (2024, February 22). *How data centers and the energy sector can sate AI’s hunger for power*. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/private-capital/our-insights/how-data-centers-and-the-energy-sector-can-sate-ais-hunger-for-power

Electric Power Research Institute. (2025, January 23). *Artificial intelligence’s growing energy appetite fuels innovation in energy efficiency and grid readiness*. EPRI. https://www.epri.com/about/media-resources/press-release/q5vu86fr8tkxatfx8ihf1u48vw4r1dzf

Goldman Sachs. (2023, April 5). *Generative AI could raise global GDP by 7%*. https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/generative-ai-could-raise-global-gdp-by-7-percent.html

Google. (2025). *Powering a new era of American innovation* [White paper]. https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/publicpolicy.google/en//resources/powering_new_era_of_american_innovation.pdf

Green, M. (2025, April 30). *Google funding electrician training as AI power crunch intensifies*. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/google-funding-electrician-training-ai-power-crunch-intensifies-2025-04-30/

Hiller, J. (2024, October 10). *AI data-center boom spurs race to find power*. The Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/ai-data-center-boom-spurs-race-to-find-power-87cf39dd

Srivathsan, B., Sorel, M., & Sachdeva, P. (2024, October 29). *AI power: Expanding data center capacity to meet growing demand*. McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/technology-media-and-telecommunications/our-insights/ai-power-expanding-data-center-capacity-to-meet-growing-demand