NABTU, BlackRock and AI Infrastructure Partnership Join Forces on Construction Workforce

Highlights

• NABTU, BlackRock and the AI Infrastructure Partnership have signed a nonbinding MOU focused on America’s infrastructure workforce.
• The collaboration will support workforce planning for data centers, power generation and other AI-related infrastructure.
• The groups will explore expanded apprenticeships, training and recruitment programs.
• The partnership aims to strengthen the skilled labor pipeline and create family-sustaining career opportunities.
• AIP is targeting $30 billion in equity investment, with the potential to reach $100 billion when including debt financing.

Partnership Targets Growing AI Infrastructure Workforce Demand

North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU), BlackRock and the AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) have established a strategic collaboration aimed at strengthening the workforce needed to support the expansion of AI and energy infrastructure in the United States.

Under a memorandum of understanding announced Aug. 10, the organizations will work on workforce planning, apprenticeship utilization, training and recruitment initiatives tied to AIP’s anticipated infrastructure project pipeline.

The partnership comes as rapid growth in artificial intelligence is driving demand for data centers, power generation and supporting infrastructure. The organizations said the expansion could create hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs.

Apprenticeships and Training at the Center of Initiative

The collaboration is intended to provide greater visibility into future workforce requirements so labor organizations, investors, contractors and other industry participants can better prepare for upcoming projects.

NABTU, which represents more than 3.2 million skilled craft professionals in the U.S. and Canada through 14 national and international unions, operates alongside signatory contractors that invest more than $3 billion annually in apprenticeship and training facilities.

The organizations will also examine recruitment strategies and pathways designed to expand participation in skilled construction careers.

AI Infrastructure Investment Drives Labor Demand

AIP was established to accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure and aims to mobilize $30 billion in equity capital, with the potential to reach $100 billion when debt financing is included.

The MOU also recognizes the potential role of responsible contractor programs and project labor agreements on certain projects, with the organizations citing potential benefits related to execution certainty, workplace safety and operational reliability.

The agreement builds on BlackRock’s recent workforce initiatives, including BlackRock Future Builders, a $100 million philanthropic program intended to help train 50,000 Americans for skilled-trade careers.

The companies said the collaboration is designed to help ensure that workers and communities participate in the economic opportunities created by the nation’s expanding infrastructure investment.

Source: NABTU.