What electrical engineers want from their jobs

This is a story about the power industry's workforce, not something that changes what a homeowner can do with their own house. But it helps explain why some energy projects and upgrades might move slower or cost more right now.

The gist: data centers built to run artificial intelligence are competing hard with power companies and utilities for a limited pool of electrical engineers. Job postings in the power sector rose 20% between 2023 and 2025, while data center postings jumped 64%, far above the 4% growth seen across the broader economy. Pay is climbing too, with median wages for electrical and electronics engineers rising from about $101,000 in 2019 to roughly $125,000 in 2025. Data center companies are drawing engineers away from utilities by offering more varied, fast-moving work, even though the hours can be brutal.

The concern raised is that this talent drain leaves utilities and grid operators short on experienced staff, while some newer companies rushing to build AI infrastructure may lack the deep safety experience that traditional utilities have built up over decades. One engineer interviewed called what he's seen at newer developers "frightening," warning that skipping the caution utilities are known for could lead to real safety problems down the road.

For homeowners, the practical takeaway is indirect: a tighter supply of skilled electrical engineers across the power sector could affect how quickly grid upgrades, new connections, or utility projects move forward in the years ahead.