Regional Intelligence: The Infrastructure Near You

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Under the Radar — Top 5 AI jobs, one to watch, and cautions paths this week

Bottom Line Up Front

While national media covers Meta’s $600B and Microsoft’s $80B infrastructure investments, Michigan alone has 17 active data center proposals that most workers have never heard about. These projects represent thousands of construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions, but also environmental concerns, power grid strain, and community displacement.

This Sunday (November 23, 2025), we’re launching the PivotIntel AI Infrastructure Intelligence Report: weekly tracking of actual projects, employment mathematics, community impact, and the questions both workers and residents need answered.

All five opportunities in our Top 5 continue holding strong. AI Agent Builder jobs surged 24% this week (5,033 → 6,253), demonstrating accelerating enterprise demand. The infrastructure buildout is creating both displacement and opportunity. Understanding which is which requires regional intelligence national media doesn’t provide.

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Top 5 This Week

No Movement — All Five Holding Strong Data verified November 20, 2025

AI Agent Builders — $120K-$180K (↔️ Holding #1) 📈
- 6,253 jobs on Indeed (up 24% from 5,033 last week)
- Extensive freelance opportunities on Upwork, Toptal, Freelancer.com
- LangChain framework adoption accelerating
- Companies racing to deploy AI agents across operations
Local Business AI Implementation — $80K-$150K+ (↔️ Holding #2)
- 75% of SMBs investing in AI (up from 24% in 2024)
- 71% planning to increase investment next year
- 33 million small businesses need implementation help
- Consulting/freelance model (not tracked by traditional job boards)
Voice AI Implementation Specialist — $90K-$160K (↔️ Holding #3)
- Market growing 34.8% CAGR ($2.4B → $47.5B by 2034)
- Enterprise voice deployments accelerating across healthcare, retail, automotive
- 90% of hospitals projected to use AI agents by end of 2025
- 90 YC-backed voice AI companies since 2020 (accelerating with each cohort)
Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator — $45K-$95K (↔️ Holding #4)
- 52,691 positions nationwide (Indeed, up from 52,000 last week)
- 29% growth projected through 2033 (BLS)
- HIPAA protection limits algorithmic management
- AI creates MORE coordination need, not less
Synthetic Data Creation — $130K-$200K+ (↔️ Holding #5)
- 161 specialized “synthetic data” roles on Indeed
- 1,424 broader synthetic data-related positions
- Market growing 31.1% CAGR
- $1.81 billion market size projected by end of 2024
- Gartner: 60% of AI training data will be synthetic by 2025

Why Rankings Matter More Than Job Count

Healthcare Coordinator (#4) shows 52,691 open positions while AI Agent Builders (#1) has just 6,253. So why isn’t Healthcare ranked #1?

Because we’re not ranking on volume alone.

Our methodology weights five factors:

Market Demand (30%) — Volume AND growth trajectory
Entry Speed (25%) — Time from zero to earning
Income Potential (25%) — Salary range and ceiling
Future Viability (15%) — Automation resistance over 5-10 years
Scam/Risk Factor (5%) — Likelihood of predatory offers

A career opportunity with 6,253 jobs paying $150K that positions you for future growth beats 52,691 jobs paying $50K in a role AI might automate.

We prioritize strategic positioning over immediate accessibility. Healthcare Coordinator is easier to get into (70% hiring odds, entry-level), but AI Agent Builders offers 2-4x the salary and positions you as someone who builds AI systems rather than works alongside them.

Volume matters, but it’s not everything. Those 52,691 Healthcare Coordinator positions mean it’s easier to get a job. But the 6,253 AI Agent Builder positions pay significantly more and offer better long-term positioning.

Think of it this way: Healthcare Coordinator is a solid, accessible opportunity—especially if you need income quickly or lack technical background. It’s our highest-ranked entry-level opportunity for good reason. But if you have or can develop technical skills, AI Agent Builders offers superior long-term positioning despite tougher entry requirements.

Movement & Analysis

Why All Five Continue Holding

This marks the second consecutive week with no movement in our Top 5. This isn’t market stagnation, it’s validation that these opportunities are genuinely positioned where AI creates demand rather than eliminating it.

AI Agent Builders (#1) shows accelerating demand with a 24% week-over-week increase (5,033 → 6,253 jobs). This surge validates our October analysis: as companies deployed AI systems that eliminated 31,039 jobs, they simultaneously needed more people who could build and manage those AI systems. The continued growth proves this isn’t a temporary spike. It’s sustained enterprise adoption.

Local Business AI Implementation (#2) benefits from the same dynamic at smaller scale. As enterprise companies cut staff and deploy AI, small businesses face competitive pressure to adopt similar capabilities. The 75% of SMBs now investing in AI (up from 24% last year) represents massive untapped market. Most small businesses can’t afford full-time AI staff, they need consultants who can implement quickly and move on.

Voice AI Implementation Specialist (#3) rides the fastest-growing segment of AI deployment (34.8% CAGR). While 31,039 workers lost jobs to AI in October, companies are simultaneously racing to deploy voice interfaces across customer service, healthcare coordination, and internal operations. The 90 YC-backed companies building voice AI solutions since 2020 (accelerating each cohort) demonstrates investor confidence in sustained demand.

Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator (#4) proves resilient because AI creates more coordination complexity, not less. As hospitals deploy AI diagnostic tools and automated scheduling systems, the need for human coordinators who can navigate insurance, explain complex medical situations, and advocate for patients actually increases. The 29% projected growth through 2033 reflects this reality, while the 52,691 current openings show immediate hiring need.

Synthetic Data Creation (#5) occupies the most specialized niche. As AI models consume more training data, privacy regulations (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA) make real data harder to access. Companies need synthetic data that maintains statistical properties while protecting privacy. While specialized “synthetic data” roles show 161 positions, broader data engineering roles incorporating synthetic data reach 1,424 and Gartner’s projection that 60% of AI training data will be synthetic by 2025 suggests this will continue expanding.

Protection Levels Against Current Layoffs

Based on October’s Challenger data showing AI as the #2 cause of layoffs:

High Protection:

AI Agent Builders (you BUILD the systems doing the replacing) — 24% job growth this week alone
Synthetic Data Creation (specialized technical expertise)

Medium Protection:

Local Business AI Implementation (consulting flexibility, diverse clients)
Voice AI Implementation (specialized deployment knowledge, 90 YC-backed companies)

Medium-Low Protection:

Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator (regulatory protection, human relationship complexity)

None of these are immune. But all five are positioned on the side of AI deployment rather than AI displacement. If you’re in customer service, data entry, basic software development, or routine professional work, you’re in the October layoff categories. These five paths move you out of that exposure.

⚡ THIS SUNDAY: PivotIntel Report Launch

Why Regional Infrastructure Intelligence Matters

The National Coverage Gap:

You’ve seen the headlines. Meta $600B, Microsoft $80B, Project Stargate $500B. What you haven’t seen: Michigan has 17 active data center proposals worth billions combined, most getting zero national media attention. Illinois? Anywhere from 170 to 244 are being reported already.

This creates an intelligence gap that hurts both workers seeking opportunities AND communities trying to understand what’s being proposed before public hearings happen.

Introducing: PivotIntel AI Infrastructure Intelligence Report

Launching Sunday, November 23, 2025
Delivered weekly via Substack
Free subscription (premium data analysis coming 2026)

What makes this different: We track regional projects national media ignores, analyze employment mathematics companies don’t advertise, and provide community impact data from both perspectives. Workers who need jobs AND residents who need answers.

This Sunday’s Inaugural Report: Michigan Deep Dive

17 Projects We’re Tracking:

Geographic spread across Michigan:

Saline Township (OpenAI/Oracle): $7B, 1.4 GW, settled lawsuit with $14M community concessions
Grayling: State land under consideration (Crawford County)
Augusta Township: Citizens secured ballot measure through petition
Howell Township: ⚡ NEW – $1B data center project (Meta confirmed as developer, November 20, 2025)
Kalkaska: ⚡ NEW – Township board rejected data center proposal (November 20, 2025)
Ypsilanti Township: 2 proposed sites (University of Michigan partnership with Los Alamos National Laboratory for research facilities)
Lansing (Deep Green): Waste heat donation model (different approach)
Allegan County (Microsoft): Site purchased
Kent County (Microsoft): Site purchased
Plus 8 more in various stages (proposed, negotiating, delayed)

Status Changes This Week:

Kalkaska moved from “under consideration” to “REJECTED” (board vote, November 20, 2025)
Howell identified as a Meta project (announcement, November 20, 2025)

The Power Grid Reality:

DTE Energy (serving southeast Michigan):

Current capacity: 11 GW total
Already delivering: 9.5 GW at peak
Data center pipeline: 7 GW in discussions
Translation: Would exceed their entire current capacity

Consumers Energy (serving west/central Michigan):

Current capacity: 7.6 GW
Data center pipeline: 15 GW in discussions
Translation: Would double their entire grid capacity

Combined: 22 GW of data center demand being discussed for Michigan alone

What You’ll Get Each Week

For Workers:

Construction job timelines by project
Which companies are actively hiring
Skills required (HVAC, electrical, mechanical, network)
Temporary vs. permanent positions breakdown
Actual wage ranges (not PR numbers)
Geographic opportunities near you

For Communities:

Projects proposed in your county
Power and water infrastructure requirements
Tax abatement details (cost per job created)
Environmental impact data
Community negotiation outcomes
Questions you should be asking

The Balanced Perspective:

We cover both sides:

✅ Workers need jobs, especially displaced manufacturing workers
✅ Communities need clean water, affordable electricity, environmental protection
✅ Data centers require massive power, water, cooling infrastructure
✅ Companies promise economic development but often deliver minimal local hiring
✅ Communities can negotiate better terms (or stop projects entirely)

Example questions we’ll help you answer:

How much water will this facility use daily?
What percentage of construction jobs go to local residents vs. traveling crews?
How many permanent jobs, and what are the actual qualifications?
What happens to residential electricity rates when 25% of the grid goes to one customer?
What tax revenue does the community actually receive after abatements?
What environmental review process applies?

Sunday’s Michigan Report Will Include:

Employment Analysis:

Project-by-project construction timeline
Temporary construction positions (with duration)
Permanent operations headcount (actual vs. announced)
Local hiring percentages where documented
Skills and certifications required
Companies mentioned (we won’t link to hiring pages, but you’ll know who to research)

Community Impact Data:

Tax abatement amounts and duration by project
Public subsidy per job created (the math they don’t advertise)
Power consumption (megawatts) and grid implications
Water usage projections
Infrastructure modifications and maintenance
Land use (agricultural → industrial conversion patterns)

Community Response Tracking:

Which projects faced opposition
Outcomes (approved, rejected, modified, delayed)
What tactics worked (Kalkaska rejection today, Augusta ballot measure)
What concessions were negotiated (Saline $14M agreement)

Both Perspectives:

The worker view: “I lost my automotive job. I have HVAC certification. Where are construction opportunities starting in 2025-2026 within 50 miles of me?”

The community view: “A data center was just proposed 10 miles from my town. What questions should I be asking at the public hearing? What are they not telling us?”

Both perspectives matter. Workers need employment. Communities need sustainable development that doesn’t destroy infrastructure or environment.

Why This Matters Now

The information asymmetry is huge:

Data center developers know:

Which communities are targeted (2-3 years before announcement)
Power and water requirements
Real job numbers (not PR inflated)
Typical tax abatement negotiations
Expected construction timeline

Communities and workers typically learn:

When public hearing is announced (60-90 days before decision)
From PR numbers (inflated job estimates)
After infrastructure deals are negotiated
With limited time to organize or prepare

PivotIntel closes that gap.

Subscribe for Sunday’s Launch

PivotIntel AI Infrastructure Intelligence Report
Every Sunday | Regional Focus | Both Perspectives

Subscribe at theopenrecordl3c.substack.com

Free subscription includes:

Weekly project tracking
Employment analysis
Community impact data
Geographic breakdowns

This Sunday (November 23): Complete Michigan analysis with all 17 projects, including today’s Kalkaska rejection

Geographic Expansion Plan

Phase 1 (November-December 2025): Michigan deep dive

Phase 2 (January 2026): Stargate expansion states

New Mexico (Project Jupiter: $165B)
Texas (Abilene, Austin area)
Wyoming
Pennsylvania
Georgia

Phase 3 (Q1 2026): Great Lakes region

Wisconsin (Meta Beaver Dam $1B)
Ohio (multiple projects)
Indiana
Illinois (Illinois (170-240+ existing data centers depending on source, most in Great Lakes region)

National coverage: Any state with $1B+ data center pipeline

We will also cover details such as the state of Illinois gave out $650M in tax incentives 2020-2023, which yielded 469 permanent jobs. That’s $1.38 million in tax incentives per permanent job created.

One to Watch: Data Center Operator/Technician

The Infrastructure Jobs Being Created Right Now

While 31,039 workers lost jobs to AI in October, the physical infrastructure being built to power that AI is creating thousands of real positions. These jobs won’t last forever (industry surveys show 47% of operators planning to reduce hands-on staff within 5 years), but they represent a genuine 3-7 year opportunity for specific worker populations.

The Numbers

Construction Phase (2025-2028 peak):

Wages: $25-45/hour depending on trade and location
Annual income: $52,000-$93,600 (full-time)
Duration: 2-3 years per facility
Total positions: Tens of thousands across multiple projects

Data Center Operator/Technician (Operational Phase):

Entry-level: $55,000-$75,000 annually
Experienced: $75,000-$95,000 annually
Senior/Specialized: $95,000-$130,000 annually
Benefits: Typically excellent (healthcare, 401k, paid time off)

Specific Examples:

Meta El Paso: 1,800 construction jobs at peak, 100 operational jobs
Meta Howell, Michigan: Construction jobs (number TBD), operational jobs (number TBD) — announced November 20, 2025
Project Jupiter (Stargate, New Mexico): 750 permanent jobs, thousands of construction jobs
Google Germany: 9,000 jobs secured
Microsoft nationwide: Thousands of positions across multiple facilities

The Manufacturing Connection: Lordstown as Case Study

This opportunity is particularly relevant for displaced manufacturing workers. The Lordstown, Ohio story illustrates both the potential and the limitations:

Lordstown Context:

Former GM plant closed 2019 (1,400 direct jobs lost, 12,000+ regional jobs affected)
Ultium Cells (GM-LG joint venture) battery plant opened on adjacent land
Local workers skeptical of “new economy” promises after GM betrayal

What Makes Data Center Work Different:

Transferable Skills: HVAC, electrical systems, mechanical maintenance, industrial controls
Similar Environment: Shift work, safety protocols, climate-controlled facilities
Higher Pay: Often $10-20K more than previous manufacturing roles
Immediate Hiring: No 4-year degree required, certifications can be obtained in months

The Honest Trade-off:

Temporary: 3-7 year window before significant automation
Geographic: May require relocation to Texas, Virginia, Midwest data center hubs
Strategic: Requires treating this as bridge income, not career destination

Who Should Seriously Consider This

Strong Candidates:

Displaced Manufacturing Workers:

Transferable skills: Mechanical, electrical, HVAC, industrial systems
Familiar with shift work and physical environments
Often have relevant certifications already
Example: Automotive technician → Data center technician (similar systems, better pay)

Military Veterans:

Security clearances (valuable for government data centers)
Technical training in electronics, systems, infrastructure
Comfortable with structured environments
Strong path from military technical roles to data center operations

Career Transitioners with 5-10 Year Horizon:

Planning a major career shift but need income now
Can use data center income to fund retraining
Example: Retail manager planning transition to supply chain analysis—work data center while getting certifications

Strategic Savers:

Willing to live frugally and bank most of income
Have a specific financial goal (pay off debt, save for business, fund education)
View this as temporary but lucrative

Who Should Think Twice

Poor Fit Candidates:

Young Workers (18-25) Looking for Career Foundation:

You have 40+ years of work ahead
Starting in a role with 7-year horizon is risky
Better to invest those years in future-proof skills
Exception: If you’re using it to fund education in another field

Workers 10+ Years from Retirement:

The timeline doesn’t work in your favor
You need stable employment through retirement
Automation will hit before you can retire
Exception: If you have strong financial cushion and can retire early if needed

Anyone Who Will Depend on This Job Long-term:

If you can’t afford to transition in 5-7 years, this is risky
If you’re not a strategic saver, you’ll end up in same position when automation hits
If you have no backup plan, you’re just delaying inevitable displacement

The Strategic Financial Approach

If you take a data center job, treat it as a 3-7 year strategic play:

Years 1-2: Establish and Save

Max out 401k contributions
Build 6-12 month emergency fund
Pay down high-interest debt
Live below your means (resist lifestyle inflation)
Learn everything about the systems

Years 3-4: Position and Pivot

Identify which roles are being automated vs. which are managing automation
Get certifications in AI infrastructure management if that interests you
Otherwise, start researching your next career move
Network with people in sustainable roles
Continue saving aggressively

Years 5-7: Transition

Begin your planned transition before you’re forced out
Use savings as runway for career change
Either move into AI infrastructure operations (if available) or execute exit plan
Don’t wait until automation announcements start

The Math:

$75K salary, 35% savings rate = $26,250/year saved
Over 5 years: $131,250 (before investment growth)
That’s 18 months of living expenses at $75K income level
Or 2+ years at a lower salary during career transition

Where to Look Right Now

Indeed/LinkedIn Searches:

“Data center technician” + [your city/state]
“Data center construction” + [region]
“Critical facilities technician”
“Data center operations”

Companies Actively Hiring:

Meta (Texas facilities, Michigan – Howell announced November 20, 2025)
Microsoft (multiple states)
Google (various locations)
Amazon Web Services (nationwide)
QTS, CoreSite, Equinix (major data center operators)
General contractors: Hensel Phelps, JE Dunn (construction phase)

What They’re Looking For:

HVAC certification
Electrical experience
Mechanical systems knowledge
Network infrastructure experience
Willingness to work shifts (24/7 operations)
Some require security clearances

The Automation Timeline

Industry Reality (Uptime Institute Survey 2024):

47% of data center operators plan to reduce hands-on staff within 5 years
Automation focus: Routine maintenance, monitoring, basic troubleshooting
Roles most at risk: Junior technicians, entry-level operators

Timeline:

2025-2027: Peak hiring (infrastructure buildout)
2028-2030: Automation deployment accelerates
2030-2032: Significant reduction in hands-on operational staff

Translation: You have a 3-7 year window for most operational roles before automation reduces headcount.

The Regional Opportunities

Texas (El Paso, Abilene, Austin area):

Multiple projects simultaneously
Lower cost of living
No state income tax
Hot job market right now

Michigan (Howell, Saline, others):

Meta Howell project identified November 20, 2025
Multiple other projects in various stages
Moderate cost of living
Manufacturing workers with transferable skills in demand

Virginia (Northern Virginia):

Largest data center hub globally
Higher pay but much higher cost of living
Mature market (less construction, more operations)
Heavy automation focus

Midwest (Iowa, Ohio, Indiana):

Growing rapidly
Moderate cost of living
Manufacturing workers with transferable skills in demand
Watch for oversupply

Why This Is “One to Watch” Not Top 5

This opportunity doesn’t make our Top 5 because:

Limited Viability (15% weight): 3-7 year window fails our long-term sustainability criteria Entry Complexity (25% weight): Geographic relocation often required, shift work challenges Strategic Limitations: Requires sophisticated financial planning and exit strategy

BUT it scores high enough (65-68/100) to warrant serious consideration for specific populations, particularly:

Displaced manufacturing workers with transferable skills
Strategic savers who can bank 30-40% of income
Workers needing bridge income while retraining for sustainable roles

The Honest Assessment

This is NOT:

A 20-year career path
A solution to AI displacement
Evidence that “AI creates as many jobs as it eliminates”

This IS:

A temporary opportunity created by infrastructure buildout
A potential 3-7 year income source with decent pay
A strategic option for specific situations
Real work with real paychecks—while it lasts

Bottom Line

Data center jobs are real. The pay is real. The opportunity window is real.

So is the automation timeline.

If you’re a displaced manufacturing worker from Lordstown, Flint, or similar communities, this could be your best immediate option. The skills transfer well, the pay is better than what you lost, and 5 years of strategic saving could position you for whatever comes next.

But go in with eyes open: This is a sprint, not a marathon. Plan accordingly.

Resources:

Full analysis with financial strategies: Why AI Isn’t a Bubble (Section: “Data Center Opportunity”)
Geographic hub analysis
Exit strategy examples
Skills that transfer vs. skills that don’t
Sunday’s PivotIntel Report: Michigan’s 17 projects with hiring timelines (including tonight’s Kalkaska rejection and Howell’s Meta)

Current State (October 2025)

Job Market Data

Current Layoff Context (October 2025):

153,074 job cuts announced (highest October since 2003)
AI cited in 31,039 cuts (#2 cause after cost-cutting)
1,099,500 total cuts through October (highest since pandemic)
Technology sector: 141,159 cuts YTD (17% increase vs. 2024)

Top 5 Job Counts (Verified November 20, 2025):

AI Agent Builders: 6,253 (↑24% from last week)
Local Business AI Implementation: Consulting model (not tracked by job boards)
Voice AI Implementation: Growing 34.8% CAGR, 90 YC-backed companies
Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator: 52,691 (↑ slightly from last week)
Synthetic Data Creation: 161 specialized roles, 1,424 broader roles

Free Resources

Access our complete library of 30-day action plans and market intelligence:

🔗 Resources Hub

Featured Action Plans:

AI Agent Builders 30-Day Plan — Technical path, highest income potential
Local Business AI Implementation — Consulting approach, flexible entry
Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator — Entry-level, fastest path to employment

Methodology & Sources

Ranking Methodology

Our Top 5 rankings use weighted criteria across five factors:

1. Market Demand (30%)

Current job postings volume
Growth trajectory (1-year and 3-year)
Industry investment signals
Enterprise adoption rates

2. Entry Speed (25%)

Time from zero to first income
Barrier to entry (education, certification, capital)
Available learning resources
Community support/mentorship

3. Income Potential (25%)

Entry-level salary range
Experienced professional ceiling
Geographic variation
Freelance/consulting rates

4. Future Viability (15%)

Automation resistance (5-10 year horizon)
Skill transferability
Industry stability
Regulatory protection

5. Scam/Risk Factor (5%)

Prevalence of predatory offers
MLM/pyramid scheme presence
Equipment purchase requirements
Unrealistic income claims

A position must score above 70/100 to make our Top 5. Positions scoring 60-69 appear in “One to Watch.” Below 60 triggers caution warnings.

Data Sources (This Week)

Job Count Verification (November 20, 2025):

Indeed.com: AI Agent Engineer (6,253 jobs), Patient Care Coordinator (52,691 jobs), Synthetic Data (161 specialized, 1,424 broader)
Search methodology: Direct Indeed searches, verified November 20, 2025
Week-over-week comparison: AI Agent Builders +24% (5,033 → 6,253)

Layoff Data:

Challenger, Gray & Christmas October 2025 Report (primary source)
eWeek: “AI-Driven Job Cuts Push 2025 Layoffs Past 1 Million” (November 2025)
CNBC: “Job cuts in October hit highest level for month in 22 years” (November 6, 2025)
Bloomberg: “US Posts Most October Layoffs in More Than 20 Years” (November 6, 2025)
CBS News: “AI is leading to thousands of job losses, report finds” (August 5, 2025)

AI Agent Builders (#1):

Indeed: 6,253 AI agent engineer jobs (November 20, 2025 – verified)
ZipRecruiter: AI agent developer postings and salary data
Freelancer.com: AI agent project listings (November 2025)

Local Business AI Implementation (#2):

NFIB Small Business and Technology Survey (June 25, 2025): 24% current AI adoption
Salesforce Small and Medium Business Trends Report (2025): 75% of SMBs investing in AI
BizTech Magazine: AI tools for small business (May 8, 2025)

Voice AI Implementation Specialist (#3):

Market.us Voice AI Agents Market Report: $2.4B (2024) → $47.5B (2034), 34.8% CAGR
Andreessen Horowitz: “AI Voice Agents 2025 Update” (March 2025)
Y Combinator: 90 voice agent companies since 2020, accelerating each cohort
Grand View Research: Conversational AI Market Report
VoiceAIWrapper: Market Analysis 2025

Healthcare Patient Care Coordinator (#4):

Indeed: 52,691 patient care coordinator positions (November 20, 2025 – verified)
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Medical and Health Services Managers Outlook
Projected growth: 29% through 2033 (much faster than average)

Synthetic Data Creation (#5):

Indeed: 161 “synthetic data” jobs, 1,424 broader synthetic data-related jobs (November 20, 2025 – verified)
Gartner: “Top 10 Data and Analytics Trends for 2024” (June 2024)
Market projections: $1.81B (2024) with 31.1% CAGR
Research institutions: Growing demand for privacy-preserving training data

Data Center Operator/Technician (One to Watch):

Comprehensive analysis: “Why AI Isn’t a Bubble” (November 13, 2025) – Section on Data Center Opportunities
Uptime Institute Survey (2024): 47% planning staff reductions within 5 years
Wage data: Construction ($25-45/hour), Operations ($55K-$130K annually)
Project examples: Meta El Paso (1,800 construction, 100 operational), Meta Howell announced November 20, 2025, Project Jupiter (750 permanent)
Geographic analysis: Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Midwest hub comparisons

Michigan Data Center Updates (November 20, 2025):

Kalkaska Township: Board rejected data center proposal (November 20, 2025)
Howell Township: Meta data center project identified (November 20, 2025)
Sources: Local news, township meeting records

Transparency Note

We track opportunities, not promote them. When a path shows warning signs (declining demand, saturation, scam prevalence), we report that honestly. Our goal is transparent intelligence that helps you make informed decisions, not feel-good content that ignores difficult realities.

If you see data that contradicts our analysis or have direct experience that should inform our coverage, contact us at [contact information].

This Sunday (November 23, 2025): Launch of PivotIntel AI Infrastructure Intelligence Report—Michigan’s 17 data center projects mapped and analyzed, including tonight’s Kalkaska rejection and Howell’s Meta project approval. Subscribe at theopenrecordl3c.substack.com (Free, with premium data coming 2026)

Previous Edition: Under the Radar – November 14, 2025: The Layoff Accelerator

Under the Radar is published weekly. This edition publishes Friday, November 21, 2025. PivotIntel AI Infrastructure Intelligence Report launches Sunday, November 23, 2025. Subscribe to The Open Record for both.