Oklahoma Data Centers Add 1,000 Construction Jobs but Run on as Few as 20 Workers
Updated
Updated · Journal Record · May 29
Oklahoma Data Centers Add 1,000 Construction Jobs but Run on as Few as 20 Workers
1 articles · Updated · Journal Record · May 29
Large Oklahoma data centers are lifting short-term hiring, but campuses above 100 megawatts can operate with as few as 20 to 30 employees once construction ends.
Meta’s Tulsa project shows the gap: more than 1,000 construction workers are expected during the build, while the completed site is projected to support about 100 permanent jobs.
Staffing Industry Analysts said the buildout is helping reverse a post-pandemic slump in temporary hiring, with the U.S. staffing market forecast to grow 1% to $180.2 billion in 2026.
Industrial staffing fell just 1% in 2025 after drops of 8% in 2024 and 12% in 2023, while engineering staffing rose 1% to $10.4 billion as power-intensive projects expanded.
The jobs boost is colliding with scrutiny over electricity and water use: Oklahoma has 45 data centers, faces grid pressure, and Oklahoma City recently approved a moratorium after environmental objections.
Is Oklahoma's data center boom a high-cost gamble for just a handful of permanent jobs?
As communities push back, can new laws force tech giants to truly pay their own way?