Meta Partners with CBRE to Train Data Center Technicians in the US for Free
April 21, 2026
In a strategic move to address the critical shortage of skilled labor in the booming data center industry, technology giant Meta has partnered with global real estate services firm CBRE to launch a free, paid training initiative in the United States. The program, named LevelUp, aims to create a pipeline of qualified fiber technicians essential for building and maintaining the infrastructure powering the digital economy.
The LevelUp Fiber Technician Pathway is a four-week intensive program set to begin this summer. It will be conducted at training centers established and operated by CBRE. The curriculum combines classroom instruction with hands-on practical training, preparing participants to install technical infrastructure, fiber-optic cables, network gear, and other mission-critical equipment. According to the program's registration page, no prior experience is required, making it accessible to career changers and recent high school graduates. Participants will receive an hourly wage for the duration of the training, and relocation costs will be covered, though the specific wage amount was not disclosed.
Successful graduates of the program will have the opportunity to work on Meta's expansive data center construction sites across the country. This initiative comes amid massive infrastructure investment by Meta, which earlier this year estimated its 2026 capital expenditure would reach between $115 billion and $135 billion—nearly double its 2025 spend. Meta CFO Susan Li attributed this surge largely to infrastructure investments, aligning with the company's November 2025 announcement of plans to invest $600 billion in U.S. data centers by 2028. The company currently has 27 data centers in the U.S. that are either operational or under construction, with more in the planning stages.
Industry analysts see the LevelUp program as a direct response to the intense competition for specialized talent, driven by rapid AI adoption and hyperscale expansion. By funding training and guaranteeing job placements, Meta and CBRE are not only securing their own workforce needs but also contributing to the development of a broader skilled labor pool essential for the sector's long-term growth. The partnership highlights a growing trend where major tech firms are taking a more active role in workforce development to mitigate a key constraint on their ambitious build-out schedules.
Source: datacenterdynamics
