In South Australia, the first ever royal commission into artificial intelligence has been called, and the CEPU SA Branch and ETU is making the case that an inquiry into AI should not just look at AI products like ChatGPT and Claude, but look at the infrastructure and data centres that power them.
Data centres and data centre construction requires electricians, with 1 in 10 Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members working on data centre construction, up from zero in only a few years. Prior to the data centre boom the nation already faced a shortage of around 100,000 electrical workers by 2050, according to Jobs and Skills Australia.
With the growth of generative AI, it is expected that data centre construction will continue to expand. Given the shortages of electrical workers that already exists, and has since 1981, it is forecast to take more electricians away from national priorities like housing and energy infrastructure, and towards data centres.
That is why it is important that within the terms of reference for the royal commission to include the use of data centre construction in training electrical workers. The CEPU SA has also called for the royal commission to investigate how data centres can contribute to Australia’s energy generation, rather than pushing up wholesale energy prices by bidding for existing power sources.
“Data centres are the physical infrastructure powering AI, and they represent a major training opportunity for Australians who want rewarding, secure work in the electrical trades.
“We have no shortage of people who want to become electrical workers – there are 600 applicants for every advertised position.
“‘Our national trade training system is underscored and unable to meet our current needs. The companies behind data centre developments are the most highly capitalised in history, they must invest in training to create more skilled tradespeople rather than just taking skills desperately needed in other sectors of the economy.
“We need to make sure data centres create opportunities for young South Australians to get into our trades.“
– John Adley, CEPU SA Secretary