CBRE and Meta Launch LevelUp Program to Train Thousands of Fiber Technicians for U.S. Data Centers

Meta Platforms, Inc. and CBRE, a commercial real estate and critical infrastructure services firm, have announced LevelUp — a multiyear program to recruit and train thousands of fiber technicians to build Meta data centers across the United States.

CBRE will establish and operate multiple training centers across the country, with the first locations set to open this summer. Graduates of the program will have the opportunity to work at Meta construction sites through Meta's network of contractors.

Addressing a Growing Workforce Shortage in Data Center Construction

The LevelUp program is designed to address what the companies describe as a growing shortage of fiber technicians needed to build next-generation data center infrastructure. The initiative aims to expand the skilled workforce, increase access to high-quality career opportunities, and create a clear pathway for recent high school graduates and career changers seeking roles in a growing field.

CBRE will train workers to install technical infrastructure, fiber-optic cables, network gear, and other mission-critical equipment at Meta's data center construction sites. The curriculum is designed to be broadly applicable, equipping trainees with transferable skills in high demand across the construction and data center industries.

Meta's Broader Commitment to Investing in America's Workforce

The partnership with CBRE builds on Meta's broader commitment to investing in America's workforce and expanding access to skilled trade opportunities, according to the announcement. Meta currently has 27 data centers either under construction or operational in the United States, with additional projects in the planning stages. Since 2010, those projects have supported more than 30,000 skilled trade jobs and 5,000 operational jobs.

"The future of the AI revolution depends on a highly skilled U.S. workforce — one that rises to the challenge of building and maintaining the complex systems that power innovation. Meta is proud to invest in technician training to support our ambitious infrastructure goals," said Dina Powell McCormick, Meta's President and Vice Chairman.

CBRE's Role in Data Center Services

CBRE provides services across the entire data center lifecycle, including leasing, capital markets, design, build, management, maintenance, and retrofit services for hyperscale, colocation, and enterprise clients.

"We are excited to build upon our longstanding partnership with Meta," said Bob Sulentic, CBRE Chair and Chief Executive Officer. "We are committed to leveraging the full scope and expertise of CBRE to develop and train a skilled workforce that will support Meta in building out their infrastructure."

Program Scope and Workforce Implications

The fiber technician shortage that LevelUp targets reflects a broader skilled trades gap in the construction industry, according to the companies. The curriculum's emphasis on transferable skills — fiber-optic installation, network infrastructure deployment, and mission-critical equipment handling — targets roles that the companies describe as offering competitive earning potential in a sector experiencing sustained demand growth.

Meta's scale of domestic data center investment, with 27 facilities operational or under construction and more in planning, underscores the labor requirements the program is intended to address. The LevelUp program represents an effort by a major technology company and its real estate services partner to directly expand the labor pipeline supporting data center construction.