Mark Zuckerberg Says America Needs 'Hundreds Of Thousands' Of Skilled Tradespeople As Meta Launches Workforce Academy To Provide 'Free Training'

As Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) accelerates its AI infrastructure buildout, CEO Mark Zuckerberg says the U.S. will need a massive, skilled workforce to support the next phase of artificial intelligence development.

Meta Launches Workforce Academy

On Monday, Meta announced that it is investing $115 million into a new workforce training initiative aimed at preparing workers for jobs tied to data center construction and operations as the company rapidly expands its AI footprint across the U.S.

The program, called America's Workforce Academy, will offer free training for data center-related careers and provide direct employment pathways for graduates.

Meta said the program's first pilot locations will launch in Louisiana, Ohio, Indiana and Texas in 2026.

"America is going to need hundreds of thousands of skilled tradespeople to build the infrastructure for our country to lead in AI," Zuckerberg wrote on Facebook. "People need access to the education and opportunity to secure these jobs."

According to Meta, participants who complete the program will receive industry-recognized credentials from the National Center for Construction Education and Research.

They will also receive an America's Workforce Certificate designed to be transferable across employers and industries.

Why Meta Is Investing In Skilled Trades

The initiative comes as Meta ramps up spending on AI infrastructure, part of a broader commitment to invest roughly $600 billion in U.S. infrastructure and jobs over the next three years.

"We believe the future is for everyone," Zuckerberg wrote. "We want to deliver personal superintelligence for everyone — and we want as many people as possible to help build that future with us."

The company said the new program builds on lessons from Level-Up, its earlier fiber installation training effort, which attracted 35,000 applications within its first week.

Notably, Zuckerberg has been restructuring Meta around AI, cutting about 10% of its workforce — roughly 8,000 employees — while shifting thousands more into teams building the company's AI models and tools.

Construction Booms — But Fewer Long-Term Jobs

While large-scale data center projects often create thousands of temporary construction jobs, permanent employment figures tend to be significantly smaller once facilities become operational, Reuters reported.

For example, Meta's Texas data center project is expected to employ more than 1,800 workers during peak construction but create around 100 operational roles after completion.

Similar patterns have emerged at other company projects, highlighting the gap between short-term infrastructure booms and long-term workforce needs.

Price Action: Shares of Meta closed Monday down 1.28% at $585.39 during regular trading and edged up 0.18% to $586.43 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro.

According to Benzinga Edge Stock Rankings, Meta ranks in the 89th percentile for growth, though the stock continues to trend negatively across short, medium and long-term time frames.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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