LABOR INTELLIGENCE · WEEKLY SNAPSHOT Week of November 6, 2026
America’s AI Buildout
What employer hiring shows about the U.S. buildout of AI data centers and chip fabs: where the projects stand, what work they need and where it is. Every Friday we save that week’s edition.
59 of 86 tracked projects aren’t operating yet: 45 under construction, 11 in development and 3 announced.
28% of openings list travel, per diem, relocation or housing.
16% of openings are in three metros: Dallas–Fort Worth, Phoenix metro and Northern Virginia.
27 employers added since last week’s edition, so these totals include new coverage. At the 73 employers we watched all week, 192 postings appeared and 207 came down.
Where the buildout stands
86 sourced projects by stage
- Announced 3
- Development & approvals 11
- Under construction 45
- Operating, with expansion 18
- Operating 9
Openings by phase of work
- Planning & design 10%
- Construction 29%
- Commissioning 4%
- Operations 25%
- Other roles 33%
Each opening counted once, by the phase of work its job title names.
Data centers and chip fabs
- Data centers 82% 5,073
- Chip fabs 18% 1,099
Where the work is
Trades most in demand
Share of all 6,172 openings. An opening can involve more than one trade.
Most openings by market
| Market · most common work | Openings | Travel or per diem | 7 days in / out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas–Fort WorthFacilities & fab operations 28% · Construction leadership 25% | 348+12 −11 in 7 days | 20%69 openings | +12 −11 |
| Phoenix metroFacilities & fab operations 33% · Construction leadership 22% | 326+5 −9 in 7 days | 22%71 openings | +5 −9 |
| Northern VirginiaFacilities & fab operations 44% · Mechanical & HVAC 17% | 319+4 −8 in 7 days | 24%75 openings | +4 −8 |
| Austin metroFacilities & fab operations 32% · Construction leadership 14% | 299+5 −3 in 7 days | 8%25 openings | +5 −3 |
| Atlanta metroConstruction leadership 36% · Facilities & fab operations 31% | 176+9 −4 in 7 days | 35%61 openings | +9 −4 |
| Central OhioConstruction leadership 26% · Facilities & fab operations 26% | 175+12 −10 in 7 days | 26%46 openings | +12 −10 |
| Portland–HillsboroFacilities & fab operations 51% · Construction leadership 8% | 135+2 −2 in 7 days | 14%19 openings | +2 −2 |
| Greater MemphisFacilities & fab operations 34% · Electrical 20% | 131+1 −0 in 7 days | 37%49 openings | +1 −0 |
| Upstate South CarolinaElectrical 19% · Mechanical & HVAC 19% | 108+14 −6 in 7 days | 44%47 openings | +14 −6 |
| Nashville regionFacilities & fab operations 17% · Construction leadership 8% | 106+0 −1 in 7 days | 29%31 openings | +0 −1 |
In / out counts postings that appeared or came down at the employers we watched all seven days (73 of 126 employers). Employers we start tracking join after a full week, so added coverage never shows as new openings.
Latest project news
Newest first, by date of the announcement. All news →
- Nov 4, 2026 · Project FinancingTeraWulf Secures Google Credit Backstop for Project Financing in Support of $19 Billion Anthropic Lease; Executes Definitive Fluor EPC Agreement
- Oct 28, 2026 · SecuritizationEdgeCore Digital Infrastructure Completes $521 Million ABS Financing
- Oct 22, 2026 · Credit FacilityNeuberger Specialty Finance and Crusoe Announce $700 Million Facility to Finance the Power Infrastructure for Crusoe's AI Factories
- Oct 2, 2026 · Operations StartApplied Digital Brings an Additional 75 MW of AI Infrastructure Online at Polaris Forge 1Applied Digital Polaris Forge 1 · Ellendale
Coming up
The next dated project targets, as owners, builders and agencies publish them. A target is not a confirmed outcome.
- Target · November 2026EdgeCore Ashburn AS01 / AS02 AS01 initial occupancySterling, Virginia
- Target · June 1, 2027CyrusOne Medina County SAT14A estimated completionNear Castroville, Medina County, Texas
- Target · June 15, 2027Vantage San Antonio (Rogers Road) TX22 estimated completionSan Antonio, Texas
- Target · June 2027Hyperion Phase 2 building construction beginsRichland Parish, Louisiana
These are postings on the employer career sites we monitor, not every vacancy, hire or filled job, and projects we have sourced, not every project. Coverage is selective: see what we cover.
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