Meta Platforms, Inc. and CBRE have announced a multiyear workforce initiative, LevelUp, aimed at recruiting and training thousands of fiber technicians to support the buildout of data centers across the United States.
Under the program, CBRE will establish and operate multiple training centers nationwide beginning this summer. The effort is designed to create a pipeline of job-ready technicians who can move directly onto Meta’s data center construction sites through its contractor network.
The initiative targets a critical bottleneck in the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure. As demand for artificial intelligence and cloud services accelerates, the need for workers capable of installing fiber-optic cabling, network systems and other mission-critical infrastructure has outpaced supply. LevelUp aims to close that gap by equipping trainees with broadly applicable skills that extend beyond a single employer or project.
According to the companies, the program will focus not only on immediate workforce needs but also on long-term career pathways. Training will prepare participants for roles across the data center and construction industries, offering an entry point for recent high school graduates and individuals seeking to transition into skilled trades. The roles are positioned as offering competitive wages and advancement opportunities in a high-growth sector.
The announcement builds on Meta’s ongoing U.S. infrastructure expansion. The company currently has 27 data centers either operational or under construction, with additional projects in development. Since 2010, those investments have supported more than 30,000 construction jobs and 5,000 operational roles.
For facilities managers, the program signals a broader industry shift towards owners and service providers are becoming more directly involved in workforce development. That is ultimately to ensure project timelines and performance expectations can be met as data center demand continues to surge.
Jeff Wardon, Jr., is the assistant editor of the facilities market.
