As Data Centers Race to Hire, Industry Leaders Launch National Workforce Initiative

America's Mission Critical Workforce, led by Interplay Learning, brings employers and workforce organizations together to address the national labor shortage.

AUSTIN, Texas, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Interplay Learning, a leading provider of immersive training for the skilled trades and industrial crafts, today announced America's Mission Critical Workforce, a national initiative formed as the industry struggles to find enough skilled workers to build, operate and maintain data centers across the United States. The initiative is kicking off with a strategic alliance of industry employers and workforce development organizations, including Cengage, New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) and YouthBuild as founding members committed to expanding training capacity across data center construction, operations and maintenance.

Data center job postings have more than doubled over the past two years, even as overall U.S. job postings declined approximately 12%, according to a July 2026 analysis from Indeed Hiring Lab. Installation and maintenance roles now account for roughly one-quarter of data center job openings.

The challenge extends beyond recruiting. The industry needs the capacity to prepare more people for these mission-critical roles. Limits on instructors, lab space and schedules restrict how many learners existing programs can serve. The alliance's first priority is to extend the reach of these programs with a digital onramp designed to help people anywhere in the country begin building job-relevant skills right away, while connecting employers with emerging talent sooner.

"Data centers do not run on computing power alone. They depend on skilled people who can build, operate and maintain complex infrastructure," said Doug Donovan, CEO of Interplay Learning. "The industry is moving quickly, and workforce development has to keep pace. This alliance will connect employers and career readiness organizations with the technology that helps quality training reach more people, faster."

Classroom instruction and on-the-job learning will remain essential to preparing America's data center workforce. Innovative online learning, dynamic simulations, VR and AI-powered platforms give career-readiness organizations and employers another way to serve more learners without waitlists, accelerate throughput to the job site and support skill development from construction through operations and maintenance.

"For America to compete globally in AI, we need employer-driven workforce development to fill the roles that develop, build and run critical data infrastructure," said the New American Industrial Alliance. "We're proud to partner with America's Mission Critical Workforce in its efforts to equip workers with the vital skills of the future."

"Employers across the country need more skilled talent, and the data center sector is one example of where that need is especially urgent," said Justin Singh, President and General Manager of Cengage Work. "At Cengage, we're focused on strengthening the connection between education and employment by expanding access to practical, job-ready training and creating more pathways into high-demand careers. We are excited to partner with Interplay Learning on this initiative to help more people enter the skilled trades and develop durable, transferable skills that can support them throughout their careers."

Through America's Mission Critical Workforce, the alliance will work together to:

• Identify priority data center roles and workforce needs across construction, operations and maintenance
• Deliver a digital-first onramp that uses simulation-based learning to expand training capacity and reach people across the country.
• Give participating employers earlier access to emerging talent
• Help more people prepare for durable careers supporting America's growing digital infrastructure, providing transferable skills that start with construction roles and bridge into permanent operations and maintenance careers when data center builds are completed.

America's Mission Critical Workforce is now accepting applications for alliance membership. Employers, data center operators, contractors, workforce development organizations, community colleges and other career-readiness organizations committed to addressing America's labor shortage can apply at: www.interplaylearning.com/americas-mission-critical-workforce.

About America's Mission Critical Workforce

America's Mission Critical Workforce is a national workforce initiative led by Interplay Learning to expand the supply of job-ready talent needed to build, operate and maintain America's data centers. Through its national alliance, employers and career readiness organizations work together to align training with industry needs, help programs serve more learners without waitlists and support workforce development across construction, operations and maintenance using accessible technology.

About Interplay Learning

Interplay Learning, the leader in immersive learning for the skilled trades and industrial crafts, includes Industrial Training International, the global leader in specialized industrial learning solutions. Leveraging instructor-led training, online simulations, AI and VR, Interplay helps organizations and educational institutions upskill faster, reduce risk and increase operational readiness. With more than 500,000 people trained, Interplay is shaping the future of workforce development and building better careers and better lives.

Recent accolades include TIME's 2026 America's Top EdTech Companies, Forbes 2026 America's Best Startup Employers, 2026 Inc 5000 list, the 2025 IACET Instructional Impact Award, Deloitte's 2025 Technology Fast 500 list, Fast Company's Annual List of the World's Most Innovative Companies of 2024. Visit www.interplaylearning.com to learn more.

About Cengage

Cengage, a global edtech company, supports learners, educators, and institutions across more than 100 countries. With products serving nearly 16 million digital users across the Higher Education, School, Work, and English Language Learning markets, we've built a learning ecosystem that connects education to employment. We combine trusted content, AI-powered insights, and scalable digital platforms to power learning for every future and drive meaningful outcomes at every stage of the learning journey. Visit us at www.cengagegroup.com or find us on LinkedIn or X. For more information about Cengage, visit www.cengagegroup.com,

About NAIA

The New American Industrial Alliance (NAIA) is a multi-sector trade association dedicated to ensuring America is the techno-industrial leader of the world. We are builders, investors, and policymakers united in our commitment to steer America toward the policies, partnerships, and institutions that will unlock the full potential of our innovation engine and capital markets. America's techno-industrial prowess is key to restoring manufacturing capacity, bolstering national security, rebuilding trust between citizens and their institutions, and ushering in a new era of prosperity for Americans of all economic classes. For more information about NAIA, visit www.newindustrials.org.

About YouthBuild

With love and respect, YouthBuild partners with opportunity youth to build the skillsets and mindsets that lead to lifelong learning, livelihood, and leadership. At more than 340 YouthBuild programs around the world, young people who are out of school and out of work reclaim their education, gain job skills and credentials, and become leaders in their communities. To date, YouthBuild has partnered with more than 220,000 young people to dedicate over 52.5 million hours of service benefitting rural, urban, suburban, and tribal communities. YouthBuild Global — the headquarters for the YouthBuild movement — unifies and partners with this expansive network of YouthBuild programs. From training, technical assistance, capacity building, and innovative program enhancements to leadership development, financial stability, and narrative change and public policy, YouthBuild Global serves as a convener, collaborator, and catalyst for the entire YouthBuild movement. YouthBuild strives to create a world where all young people are seen for their potential and power to transform themselves and their communities. For more information about YouthBuild Global and the YouthBuild movement, visit YouthBuild.org.

SOURCE Interplay Learning