Several universities throughout Mississippi have existing programs dealing with massive data systems. But graduates don't always move to where data centers need them. That creates a geographic problem for attracting these businesses, said Accelerate Mississippi Executive Director Courtney Taylor.
One solution, Taylor said, is working with communities, businesses and schools to create new talent pipelines in the communities that will need them. “Because all of this has to be led ultimately at the local level. Economic developers, education leaders, community leaders. And so we’ve worked really big picture to get our resources all pushing in the same direction as a small, rural state,” said Taylor.
Trey Smith, Director of Talent Solutions at Accelerate, added: “Each region has its own unique opportunities and its own unique challenges, and so that’s where the talent solutions team works to coordinate all of these efforts to ensure there is a streamlined, efficient approach to tackling the workforce issue for those areas.”
Another major need for data centers is reliable sources of electronic manufacturing. Earlier this month, the company Jabil announced a new plant in north Mississippi hiring more than two thousand long-term employees.
Bill Cork, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, says this positions the state as a major supplier in the age of AI.
“That’s not only data centers, but electric vehicles, advanced manufacturing, robotics, and all of the things that are running the digital economy and the electrified economy. When you’ve got a competitive advantage, it’s great to see us winning the expansions that come along with this new transformational growth.”
Representatives from Amazon and Compass data centers told the legislative AI task force this month they plan to have at least 60 percent of staff positions filled by Mississippians and grow that percentage over time.
Many of the planned data centers throughout the state will take years to become fully operational. And this month, Jackson became the first city in the state to temporarily ban data centers.
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