Meta seeks workers with no experience for data center jobs amid AI-driven shortage

Meta on April 20 launched the LevelUp training program with CBRE to rapidly train Americans with no experience as fiber/data-center technicians, aiming to ease a skilled-labor bottleneck as it builds 27 U.S. data centers. The move could lower hiring frictions and pressure contractor supply costs for hyperscalers, even as Meta pursues cost cuts and plans layoffs starting around May 20 (about 10% or ~8,000 roles). The program signals Meta is prioritizing infrastructure execution amid heavy industry spending (Bloomberg: >$750bn last year) and could buoy contractors and regional labor markets while reducing medium-term wage inflation risks for data‑center builds.