Building the Workforce that Powers the Future
The data center industry is growing faster than the workforce that supports it. Compass is changing that — creating new pathways into high-paying, high-impact careers that don’t require a four-year degree.
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The Opportunity is Real, the Numbers Prove it.
The data center industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy. The workforce to support it is still catching up.
projected annual growth in data center demand through 2030.
JLL 2026 Global Data Center Market Outlook
of data center organizations report difficulty finding qualified candidates.
Uptime Institute, 2022 Global Data Center Survey
of graduates land a job within a month of program completion.
TSTC MEI Data Center Pathway Program, 2026
additional jobs created per Compass role.
Compass Datacenters, Workforce & Supply Chain Data — Active Campuses, May 2026
careers projected at full build-out of the Red Oak campus alone.
Chris Crosby, CEO — U.S. Congressional Testimony, Jan. 2026
A Growing Industry, A Growing Skills Gap
A Compass campus isn’t a temporary construction project — it’s a 100-year economic engine. From the HVAC technicians who keep cooling systems running to the electrical and IT specialists who manage constant equipment refreshes, our campuses create a permanent ecosystem of skilled, high-paying roles that sustain local families for decades.
But that ecosystem only works if the talent pipeline exists to fill it. And right now, it doesn’t.
Compass partners with local trade schools through our MEI Data Center Pathway Program. This initiative provides “new-collar” workers with a direct route into high-paying mechanical, electrical, and IT careers without the requirement of a four-year degree.
Creating A Direct Path into the Data Center Industry
In partnership with Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Compass developed the MEI (Mechanical, Electrical & Information Technology) Data Center Pathway Program — an intensive, industry-aligned certification that equips students with the real-world skills needed to launch a career in data center operations.
The MEI Data Center Pathway Program introduces students to the mechanical, electrical and cooling systems that support data center operations — from HVAC systems to basic electrical theory to IT fundamentals. Every hour is built around the skills employers are hiring for right now.
Every course is built around the skills data center employers are actively hiring for — developed directly with industry to reflect what day-one success looks like.
No simulations. Students train on the same systems, in the same environments, they’ll work in on day one.
Graduates leave with credentials and direct connections to employers who are ready to hire them.
Compass and its industry partners are invested in student success — before graduation and long after.
Industry-Aligned Curriculum
Every course is built around the skills data center employers are actively hiring for — developed directly with industry to reflect what day-one success looks like.
Hands-on Training
No simulations. Students train on the same systems, in the same environments, they’ll work in on day one.
Direct Career Pathways
Graduates leave with credentials and direct connections to employers who are ready to hire them.
Industry Supported Opportunities
Compass and its industry partners are invested in student success — before graduation and long after.
Hear directly from Students
Built with the Industry, for the Industry
Red Oak, Texas: What a Compass Campus Becomes
When Compass broke ground in Red Oak, it didn’t just build a data center. It anchored an entire ecosystem — one that’s been growing ever since, and is designed to keep growing for the next 100 years.
1,700+ construction workers have built the campus, and 400 full-time employees will operate it at full build-out. These aren’t temporary roles, they’re careers with six-figure earning potential, rooted in the community long after construction is complete.
When Compass needed power infrastructure, it constructed a dedicated Schneider Electric manufacturing facility adjacent to the campus, now employing 300+ workers producing power rooms for data centers nationally. Additionally, a new on-site service Operations Center is bringing skilled technician roles to the area to support data centers across the region — keeping local talent local.
Compass donated a data center facility to Texas State Technical College to give MEI Data Center Pathway Program students a real facility to train in. The program is already placing graduates directly into technical careers.
Compass’s commitment to Red Oak didn’t stop at the property line. Before breaking ground, Compass invested $72M to fund the construction of high-voltage transmission lines and substations, strengthening the broader grid for the entire community. What has followed was a ripple effect still growing today: new roads, stormwater infrastructure, a fire station, a police station and baseball fields for local families.
Workforce Insights
How intensive is the MEI Data Center Pathway Program?
The MEI Data Center Pathway Program provides 235 of hands-on lab and classroom instruction as a twelve-week, part-time track.
Are these careers here to stay?
Yes. According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, frontline jobs in construction and technical operations are among the fastest-growing roles in the world — and are projected to remain in high demand through 2030 and beyond.
What kinds of jobs do MEI Data Center Pathway Program graduates typically land?
Graduates enter roles across the mechanical, electrical, cooling, and IT systems that keep data centers running — from HVAC technicians and electrical specialists to data center operations technicians and facilities engineers. These are the hands-on, mission-critical roles that hyperscale facilities depend on every day.
What does the pay look like?
Data center careers are among the best-compensating roles in the skilled trades. Many technical and managerial positions offer six-figure salaries 30 – 50% + higher than local median averages — without the four-year degree and student debt that typically come with that income level.
Is there room to grow once I'm in the industry?
Significant room. Compass’ data center campuses are built to operate for 100 years, and the technology inside them is refreshed every three to five years — meaning demand for skilled operators and technicians never plateaus. Graduates who start in technical roles have a clear path into supervisory, engineering, and management positions as they build experience.
Does Compass work with veterans?
Through partnerships with Salute and Overwatch, Compass connects veterans with careers in data center operations — letting them apply the discipline and technical skills they built in service to roles that keep America’s digital infrastructure running, in the communities they already call home.