Who will wire North Texas’ AI boom? Companies race to train workers
DALLAS, Texas – July 9, 2026 / CEC Facilities (“CEC”), was featured in The Dallas Morning News for its role in training the next generation of electricians as North Texas’ AI, data center and advanced infrastructure markets continue to grow.
The article, written by Wilborn P. Nobles III highlights CEC University, CEC Facilities’ apprenticeship and training program in Irving, as one example of how companies are working to build the workforce needed to support the region’s continued growth.
Third year CEC University apprentice Jose Calzada watches Mario Lopez run electrical wires into a junction box in Irving, Texas, on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
The article, written by Wilborn P. Nobles III highlights CEC University, CEC Facilities’ apprenticeship and training program in Irving, as one example of how companies are working to build the workforce needed to support the region’s continued growth.
North Texas’ AI and data center expansion is creating significant demand for electrical talent. According to the article, the Texas Workforce Commission projects the Dallas, Tarrant and North Central Texas workforce regions will need nearly 3,000 additional electricians by 2032. In the Dallas region alone, the state projects more than 1,000 electrician openings each year.
BIM/VDC coordinator Kevin Vargas leans over students Michael Villalobos (left) and Juan Ibarra while they find the elevation of hangers at CEC University in Irving on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The need extends beyond electricians. Data centers, semiconductor facilities and advanced manufacturing campuses also require welders, HVAC technicians, plumbers, pipe fitters and other skilled trades. As experienced workers retire and fewer young people enter the trades, companies across the construction and industrial sectors are expanding apprenticeships, internships and school partnerships to develop new talent.
CEC Facilities is directly connected to this growing demand. The company’s work spans data centers, semiconductor plants and other complex, power-intensive projects across Texas and the broader Sun Belt. CEC President Daniel Williams told a recent Dallas Regional Chamber Leadership Dallas cohort that AI and digital infrastructure are reshaping the company’s future.
Large data center campuses can require hundreds of electricians. On one West Texas campus alone, CEC expects to log nearly 1.9 million electrical labor hours over a 14- to 16-month period. Williams said the company’s current demand and backlog, especially from data center work, requires CEC to grow its workforce from roughly 2,200 employees to nearly 4,000 in the next 18 months.
Source: Texas Workforce Commission, Employment Projections by Occupation 2022-2032,TexasLaborAnalysis.com
To help meet that need, CEC opened CEC University in 2021 as a dedicated apprenticeship and training center in Irving. The facility includes classrooms, hands-on lab space designed to mirror real jobsite conditions, and a connection to CEC’s nearby prefabrication plant and headquarters.
CEC University Dean Fred Mchugh (left) and President Daniel Williams watch a video presentation in a classroom in Irving on Thursday, May 7, 2026.
CEC founder Ray Waddell pushed for the creation of CEC University because he saw long-term value in building a U.S. Department of Labor-accredited four-year apprenticeship program. CEC University Dean Fred McHugh said the program was designed not only to produce journeymen, but also to develop future leaders across the company.
CEC recruits approximately 30 to 40 apprentices each year, largely through Career and Technical Education programs in the Grand Prairie, Fort Worth and Lewisville school districts. The company also supports partner programs with tools, materials and career exposure, helping students understand what opportunities are available in the electrical trade.
Students begin learning about CEC as early as eighth and ninth grade through career fairs and school engagement. That relationship can continue into internships, CEC signing day opportunities and, for select graduates, full-time first-year apprenticeship roles.
Apprentices spend one day each week at CEC University and the rest of their time gaining real-world experience on jobsites. The program includes classroom learning, hands-on technical training and field application. Pay increases are built into the federally registered apprenticeship program, and licensed journeymen and experienced superintendents can build strong long-term earning potential.
CEC is also focused on retention and career development. As apprentices progress, the company helps them see a future beyond the tools by connecting them with mentors in project management, field leadership and other career paths.
Third year CEC University apprentice Mario Lopez secures electrical wires in a junction box in Irving, Thursday, May 7, 2026.
The article also highlights apprentices who found opportunity through the electrical trade after taking different paths. For many, the combination of steady pay, hands-on learning and long-term career growth has created a clear sense of momentum.
CEC University instructors also emphasize the technical complexity of the trade. Electrical training includes math, physics, code work and field problem-solving, helping apprentices build skills that are critical to the region’s infrastructure future.
As North Texas continues to grow as a hub for AI infrastructure, data centers, semiconductor work and advanced manufacturing, workforce development will remain a major priority. CEC Facilities is proud to be part of that effort by investing in people, training and the future of the electrical trade.