Financial Giant Transforms into "American Blue Sky": BlackRock Invests $100 Million to Train Hydroelectric Skilled Workers

Cailian Press, March 12 (Editor: Ma Lan) The construction of artificial intelligence (AI) data centers in the United States faces not only practical obstacles related to energy grids but also a shortage of skilled workers. This has left Silicon Valley giants with funding but unable to quickly build AI infrastructure.

On Wednesday, the world’s largest public fund management company, BlackRock, announced a $100 million investment in a training program for technical workers. The funds will be distributed through nonprofit organizations and workforce development partners across multiple states in the U.S… The goal of the program is to benefit 50,000 workers over the next five years.

The targeted workers include electricians, plumbers, HVAC technicians, and steelworkers. Currently, these industries have an aging workforce, with many workers nearing retirement. According to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, over the next decade, more than 200,000 electricians are expected to retire in the U.S., while an additional 300,000+ new electricians will be needed to meet AI infrastructure demands.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink pointed out that by 2033, the U.S. will need $10 trillion in infrastructure investment to upgrade old systems and build new energy, digital, and AI infrastructure. However, funding alone is not enough; talent is the key to building America’s future.

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The shortage of technical workers has already driven up wages in these professions. While there are regional differences, electricians in the U.S. can earn six-figure salaries after training. Near Washington, D.C., where data centers are most concentrated, the starting wage for electrical apprentices at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 26 is about $26 per hour, roughly equivalent to a monthly salary of 30,000 RMB.

After completing a five-year apprenticeship, licensed electricians earn about $59.50 per hour, approximately 410 RMB, with benefits such as health insurance and pensions. Overtime or supervisory roles can push annual earnings close to $200,000.

However, for BlackRock, investing in technical workers is not solely for charity or public welfare; there are other business considerations.

BlackRock is one of the main investors in Meta’s Hyperion data center, which is expected to cover an area comparable to Central Park in Manhattan. Reports indicate that BlackRock purchased bonds worth over $3 billion for this project last October.

Additionally, BlackRock led a roughly $40 billion acquisition of data center company Aligned Data Centers, highlighting its significant investment in AI infrastructure.

From this perspective, BlackRock is clearly betting heavily on AI and expects higher returns from data center operations, which depends on the timely construction and operation of these centers. This is likely a key reason for its investment in workforce training programs.

Beyond BlackRock, Google has also committed $15 million and partnered with the U.S. Electrical Training Alliance to help expand the pool of electricians. A policy report from Google warned that a shortage of electricians could limit the U.S.'s ability to build AI-supporting infrastructure.