More and more data centers are being built, but job opportunities for American college students are becoming increasingly scarce.

On September 1, a research report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas showed that since the launch of ChatGPT in 2022, the number of job postings for high AI-exposure positions in Texas has continued to decline, with recent college graduates bearing the brunt, as their unemployment rate rose to an "unusually high level" during this period.

In the first quarter of 2025, the number of job postings for high AI-exposure positions fell by about 8% compared to low-exposure positions.

Researchers Samuel Dodini and Tucker Smith wrote in the report: “These dynamics suggest that recent college graduates—whose unemployment rates rose to unusually high levels during the rapid spread of generative AI—are the group where the effects of generative AI on jobs and income first become evident.”

Data Center Powerhouse, White-Collar Job Desert

Texas is the state with the largest data center capacity under construction in the United States. However, large-scale infrastructure investment has not brought growth in white-collar jobs; instead, it stands in sharp contrast.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas research pointed out that the occupations with the highest AI exposure in Texas are concentrated in software development, web design, and other computer-intensive positions. At the same time, managers, clerical staff, editors, and other white-collar professions also have high exposure levels.

These happen to be the traditional employment sectors where college graduates are most concentrated.

The construction of data centers brings with it blue-collar jobs such as electrical engineers and construction workers, not an expansion of software engineer or data analyst positions. AI tools themselves are replacing some of the latter's work.

Public Opinion Pushback, Political Reversal

The data center construction boom has sparked growing grassroots opposition in Texas.

A survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania showed that by July 2025, 61% of American adults opposed the construction of data centers in their area—a 12 percentage point increase compared to the survey results from February to March of this year.

Faced with strong backlash from voters, Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott has been forced to shift from a supporter of the data center industry to a public critic—the midterm elections will be held in November.

Trump, on the other hand, holds an entirely opposite stance. On Monday, he posted on Truth Social: “The only reason communities across the U.S. oppose data centers is because they want to be left behind and poor. If they want to be successful and prosperous, want lower taxes, and job opportunities everywhere, let data rule.”

Youth Unemployment: A Global Concern

The situation in Texas is not an isolated case, but rather a microcosm of a global trend.

A report released by the International Labour Organization in August this year pointed out that global youth unemployment rates are rising, particularly in high-income economies. Youth unemployment in North America has increased from 8.3% in 2023 to 9.8% in 2025; in Northern, Southern, and Western Europe, youth unemployment remains at a high level of 15% in 2025.

Sukti Dasgupta, Director of the Employment, Skills and Enterprise Department at the International Labour Organization, stated: “The direct impact of AI on employment remains unclear at this point, but we cannot afford to be complacent or underestimate the risks. Technological advancement, including AI, must serve young people, not work against them.”

The International Labour Organization report also pointed out that jobs which have traditionally provided entry opportunities for young people—such as clerical and administrative positions, manufacturing work, and certain technical occupations—are shrinking.