Dive Brief:
- JLL is working with the Nomad Futurist Foundation to develop free educational and training programs aimed at expanding access to the data center industry.
- The real estate services firm is creating a 16-hour curriculum based on operational and professional training it has conducted for its data center technical staff, according to a news release Wednesday. JLL said its curriculum spans over 80 courses across the energy management, maintenance operations and health and safety disciplines and that the curriculum it creates from these courses will be provided to Nomad Futurist Foundation participants globally at no cost, if they meet certain criteria.
- “The need for talent and capacity to operate this critical infrastructure is projected to grow exponentially, and JLL is committed to equipping the next generation of data center operators with the skills they need to be part of one of the fastest-growing and best-compensated industries,” JLL Work Dynamics Americas CEO Sanjay Rishi said in the release.
Dive Insight:
The data center market industry is experiencing large-scale growth, driven by artificial intelligence, cloud services and web-enabled devices, according to JLL’s 2024 global data centers outlook. However, an aging workforce, exacerbated by a scarcity of available talent and poor visibility into the types of jobs and skills needed, poses challenges for an industry, where specialized skills are required to build and staff data center facilities, JLL notes.
“There are nearly 39 [gigawatts] of data center space under construction globally today, and the ability…to recruit and retain qualified talent to have the processes to deliver on day one is becoming more and more of a challenge,” Matt Landek, managing director at JLL Work Dynamics’ data center and telecom unit, said in a statement.
JLL’s technical development program, which primarily targets high school students and those without access to sufficient resources, will be available through in-person classroom sessions or online sessions, according to the release. Bryon Price, senior director of technical training, operational and professional development, will curate the curriculum with his team at JLL, the release said.
The program spans four tiers tailored to specific key positions in data centers: operator, chief engineer, facilities manager and senior facilities manager, JLL said. The firm emphasized that the program will provide a deep understanding of the critical technical aspects to ensure that each certified individual demonstrates proficiency in their respective domains.
JLL said that participants who complete the curriculum will be well-prepared for entry-level roles as data center operators or maintenance technicians.
