Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the AI boom is driving a surge in demand for skilled trades, making it an especially good time to work in fields like plumbing, electrical work, and construction.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Huang said the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure — particularly data centers and chip factories — is creating a wave of high-paying manual jobs. He described the moment as the “largest infrastructure buildout in human history,” noting that it requires vast amounts of physical labor to support AI systems.
Huang emphasized that these roles are not only in high demand but are also seeing sharp wage growth in the US, with salaries for some construction and trade jobs nearing six figures. He pointed to a growing shortage of workers capable of building and maintaining the facilities that power AI.
The comments come amid broader concerns about AI’s impact on employment. Huang has repeatedly argued that AI will not eliminate jobs on a mass scale, citing fields like radiology where automation has coincided with job growth. He added that many manual professions remain far from being replaced by AI due to the physical skills and dexterity required.
“Everybody should be able to make a great living,” Huang said, stressing that high incomes are increasingly possible without a PhD or a career in software, as long as workers have the skills needed to build the AI-driven economy.