- Meta and CBRE launch LevelUp to train thousands of US data center fiber technicians.
- Program addresses a technician shortage amid a major data center construction boom.
- Meta’s data center spending could reach up to $135B in 2026.
- The initiative supports Meta’s AI infrastructure expansion across nearly 30 sites.
LevelUp Technician Training Launched
According to Bisnow, Meta Platforms and CBRE have introduced LevelUp, a nationwide data center personnel training program targeting thousands of fiber technicians. Graduates will be positioned to work at Meta’s developing and operational data centers, supporting its AI-powered infrastructure initiatives.
Beginning this summer, CBRE will organize and operate training centers across the US. This move comes as Meta accelerates the buildout of nearly 30 data centers, aiming to meet surging AI-driven demand.
Responding to Growing Demand
The LevelUp initiative arrives as the US faces a shortage of skilled data center personnel, particularly fiber technicians, required for new and expanding data center campuses. Meta spent $72.2B in 2025 on infrastructure and forecasts between $115B and $135B in capital expenditures for 2026. The company has also committed to a $10B, 4M SF data center project in Indiana designed for 1 gigawatt of capacity.
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Industry Expansion Continues
Meta’s training push reflects broader industry momentum. Other tech leaders are expanding data center investments. Elon Musk is scaling xAI alongside Tesla and SpaceX.
At the same time, Prologis allocated $1.3B to data center construction in Q1 2026. This accounted for 62% of its quarterly investment. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms plans to invest $600B in AI, infrastructure, and workforce by 2028, as part of a broader global push to scale data center capacity and stay competitive in the AI arms race. As a result, demand for specialized data center talent continues to rise.
