Finance Careers: Inside Blackstone's Strategy for Growing Talent in Data Centers
Finance Careers and the Data Center Demand
Investors globally are eyeing data centers as the backbone of the generative AI revolution. With demand skyrocketing, data-center staffing requirements are soaring from 2 million in 2019 to 2.3 million by 2025, according to The Uptime Institute. This growth necessitates a workforce equipped with specialized skills to handle the demands of this burgeoning industry.
Blackstone's Commitment to Talent Development
Steve Schwarzman has pledged that Blackstone aims to become the largest investor in AI infrastructure worldwide. Presently, the firm holds a portfolio of data centers valued at $55 billion, with an additional $70 billion in the pipeline. Key strategies include leveraging Blackstone Infrastructure Partners and the $10 billion acquisition of QTS, a data center REIT in 2021.
Data Center Academy Initiatives
Addressing the talent shortage, Blackstone is actively implementing the Data Center Academy, a program initiated to identify and develop skills within the labor market for data centers. This initiative has already produced 100 new, trained hires, representing 8% of QTS's workforce.
Career Pathways Program
Furthermore, the Career Pathways program, established in 2020, has become instrumental in aligning talent with current industry needs. As discussed at the 2024 Career Pathways Summit, Marcus Felder emphasized the program's focus on developing key skills essential for future workforce demands.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.