Data Centers Growing Fast and Reshaping Local Economies

Employment was uneven within states, too.  

In California, for example, three counties (San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Clara) accounted for 60% of the state’s data center employment. In Texas, nearly 75% was in four counties (Travis, Bexar, Collin and Dallas).

We also compared states’ share of data center employment with their overall employment growth between 2016 and 2023.

Our findings: The percentage of data center employment doubled in Arkansas and Alabama and grew significantly in the District of Columbia and other states, including Maine, Connecticut and Georgia.