AI data centers have created a surge in demand for construction workers:
AI investment is surging and so is the “thirst for massive data centers,” according to The Wall Street Journal. The AI data center boom means increased demand for construction workers – and increased pay.
New AI data centers are being built across the country. (One estimate suggests 411 data centers are currently in development across the U.S.)
The construction projects are “creating heavy demand for skilled trades workers.”The Journal spoke to contractors who, until recently, were struggling to run small businesses, but who are now managing large teams of skilled trades workers. Those working on data center projects are seeing pay increases from their prior construction roles, often “25% to 30% more than they did before,” according to Jake Rasweiler, Kelly’s senior vice president of data centers.
It’s not clear how long the data center building boom will last, and it’s worth noting that data centers “don’t employ many workers once they are actually built.”
The construction sector was already facing a “shortage of skilled tradespeople.”
Despite the higher pay, data-center projects have faced delays due to staffing shortages.
52% of data-center equipment manufacturers, engineers and construction companies attributed business disruptions to staffing shortages this year, according to a recent survey, up from 43% last year.
Read more via The Wall Street Journal
Employee burnout remains stuck at 45%, unchanged despite organizations' efforts to address workplace stress, according to Eagle Hill Consulting's latest workforce research.
Highlights from Eagle Hill's survey of over 1,200 U.S. employees:
Overall burnout rate: 45% of workers report burnout, down from pandemic highs of 58% but unchanged from recent quarters.
Demographic gaps: Women (49%) experience higher rates than men (41%). Gen Z leads at 54%, followed by Millennials at 52%.
Top burnout drivers: Workload (51%), staff shortages (42%), and work-life balance (41%).
Impact on productivity: Chronically high burnout creates competitive disadvantages through lower productivity, reduced engagement, and higher turnover risk.
Communication breakdown is compounding the issue: Only half of burned-out employees discuss it with managers, and 57% of managers take no action when concerns are raised.
Read more via Eagle Hill Consulting
Job seekers feel more prepared than ever to navigate their searches, even as their outlook on the broader labor market hits record lows, according to ZipRecruiter's Q4 2025 Job Seeker Confidence Survey.
There's a "confidence divide":
The ZipRecruiter Job Seeker Confidence Index fell 0.8 points to 96.9 in Q4, while the Expectations Index dropped 12.0 points to its lowest point on record.
39.5% of job seekers are expecting fewer available jobs over the next six months.
Assessments of current labor market conditions fell 1.7 points, offsetting Q3's gains.
Job seekers' confidence in their ability to navigate the job search process increased 4.1 points, reaching the highest level since tracking began in 2022.
A record 27.3% of job seekers are "completely confident" they will find a job within the next month.
Job seekers are increasingly confident of their negotiating position:
Almost half (48.6%) of job seekers said they "received an offer within the last month," a level last reached in 2022.
52.1% of job seekers receiving offers rejected them, the highest recorded value since 2022.
28.0% of job seekers are "completely confident" they would negotiate an offer, up from 25.3% in Q3.
Pay is driving workers to seek new opportunities:
In Q4, 44% of job seekers who quit their last role said they did so as a result of low pay, up from 31% who said the same in Q3.
More than one-third of job seekers ranked compensation as their top priority, with flexibility and job security coming in as the second and third most important priorities.
AI-savvy candidates were more confident than job seekers who don't use AI:
More than one-third (33.6%) of AI-savvy job seekers were "completely confident" they would find a job within a month, versus 20.3% of non-users.
Read more via ZipRecruiter
Three-quarters of hospitality workers browse job listings weekly, even when not actively job hunting, according to new research from OysterLink.
A recent OysterLink survey of 150 hospitality workers reveals that routine job browsing has become standard behavior across the industry:
76% check job listings weekly, regardless of whether they're actively seeking new employment.
10% browse monthly to stay aware of market conditions.
8% look only when dissatisfied with their current role.
6% casually review postings with no intention to apply.
Read more via OysterLink
