A worker who did not attend college describes how he entered the trades and now earns more than $40 an hour working on data centers. According to the account shared by Business Insider and echoed by Yahoo News, Cody Cole chose to pursue blue-collar work after high school instead of enrolling in college. He now performs tasks tied to building or supporting data-center operations and links his higher wages and expanding opportunities to increased investment associated with the AI boom. The articles present a personal narrative that highlights a pathway into skilled labor without a college degree, emphasizing that demand in infrastructure-intensive technology settings can translate into well-paying jobs. While the coverage focuses on Cole’s individual experience, it also reflects a broader theme: growing activity in the AI sector can increase staffing needs for roles such as those supporting data-center capacity. The reporting does not provide detailed verification of broader labor statistics, focusing instead on the worker’s reported pay and the connection he makes between AI-driven construction and employment prospects in the trades.