A new partnership between CBRE Group and Meta Platforms aims to tackle one of the construction industry’s most pressing challenges: a shortage of skilled labor needed to build and operate data centers across the United States.
The companies announced a multiyear initiative, known as LevelUp, designed to recruit and train thousands of fiber technicians who will support the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. The program comes as demand for data centers continues to surge, fueled by cloud computing, artificial intelligence and data storage needs.
“We are committed to leveraging the full scope and expertise of CBRE to develop and train a skilled workforce that will support Meta in building out their infrastructure,” CBRE CEO Bob Sulentic said in a statement.
Under the initiative, CBRE will establish training centers nationwide beginning this summer. The curriculum will focus on equipping workers with specialized skills, including installing fiber-optic cables, network equipment and other essential systems required for modern data centers.
Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to work on Meta’s construction projects through CBRE’s contractor network, creating a direct pathway from training to employment. The companies said the effort is intended to provide participants with “a foundation for long-term, transferable careers in the skilled trades sector.”
The program reflects a broader industry push to address labor shortages that have become a bottleneck for data center development. As hyperscale facilities grow more complex, the need for trained technicians capable of handling advanced infrastructure has intensified.
Other major technology companies have launched similar workforce initiatives in recent years. Google introduced its Skilled Trades and Readiness (STAR) program in 2023, partnering with community colleges and nonprofits to train workers in fiber deployment and related skills. Amazon followed with its Information Infrastructure Pre-Apprenticeship Program in 2024, focusing on safety, electrical systems and data center operations.
CBRE’s investment in workforce development aligns with its broader strategy to expand its data center business. The company has reported strong growth in the sector, including a $1.2 billion acquisition of Pearce Services and annual growth of approximately 20% in its data center solutions division.
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“We’ve created an integrated offering for the most important hyper scalers, [which] consists of services related to a data center’s technical infrastructure called the white space and the building operating systems called the gray space, along with traditional facilities management services,” Sulentic said.
Meta, for its part, continues to scale its infrastructure footprint, with 27 data centers either operational or under construction in the U.S. These projects have already supported more than 35,000 skilled trade and operational jobs, according to the company.
“The future of the AI revolution depends on a highly skilled U.S. workforce — one that rises to the challenge of building and maintaining the complex systems that power innovation,” Dina Powell McCormick, president and vice chairman at Meta, said in a statement.
As demand for digital infrastructure accelerates, initiatives like LevelUp highlight the growing intersection between construction, technology and workforce development — and the increasing importance of skilled labor in sustaining that growth.
Originally reported by Joe Burns, Reporter in Facilities Dive.
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