JOBS AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
Skilled careers and long-term local investment
Data centers support jobs in operations, construction, power infrastructure, and the businesses that serve them, and contribute to local tax bases.
ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION
What the U.S. data center industry adds to the economy
Jobs supported nationwide in 2023, including direct, indirect, and induced effects.
Jobs supported elsewhere in the economy for each direct data center job.
Growth in total jobs supported from 2017 to 2023, from 2.9 million to 4.7 million.
Data center industry contribution to U.S. GDP
$ billions per year
Source: PwC for the Data Center Coalition, Economic Contributions of Data Centers in the United States 2017–2023 (Feb. 2025). Includes direct, indirect, and induced effects of construction and operations.
CAREERS
Where the jobs are
Year-round, on-site roles
Facilities run around the clock, staffed by operations, electrical, mechanical, maintenance, and security teams.
Multi-year build-outs
Large campuses are built in phases, bringing sustained work for trades, contractors, and equipment suppliers.
Jobs beyond the fence line
PwC estimates each direct data center job supports more than six jobs elsewhere in the U.S. economy.
TAXES
Long-term contributions to public revenue
Data centers are capital-intensive, and their buildings and equipment are generally assessed as taxable property. Local revenue is shared among school districts, counties, and other taxing entities, subject to abatement agreements that vary by jurisdiction.
Federal, state, and local taxes from the data center industry
Per year
Source: PwC for the Data Center Coalition, Economic Contributions of Data Centers in the United States 2017–2023 (Feb. 2025)
MYTH AND FACT
“Data centers do not create real jobs.”
Tap for the fact →From 2017 to 2023, the U.S. data center industry’s total employment contribution grew 60%, from 2.9 million to 4.7 million jobs. Each direct job supports more than six jobs elsewhere in the U.S. economy.
Source: PwC for the Data Center Coalition, 2025COMMON QUESTION
How many jobs do data centers support?
PwC estimates the U.S. data center industry supported 4.7 million jobs in 2023, including construction, operations, and the businesses that serve them.