AI Boom Electrifies Need for Electrical Engineers
- linguollc
- Aug 26, 2025
- 3 min read
The AI boom has caught on but electrical needs struggle to keep up. According to a recent International Energy Agency report, grid congestion means about 20% of planned data center projects risk being delayed. Companies now must grapple with both infrastructure limits and labor shortages that are holding back progress.
The labor side is especially critical: electrical and power engineers are in high demand, but employers are struggling to find enough skilled workers. Analysts have tried to piece together the scale of the shortage, and what emerges is a sector under severe strain. Companies like Electric Power Engineers say data centers are growing so quickly that it’s hard to keep up with demand.
At times, it doesn’t even occur to developers that by hiring engineers away from other fields, they may slow down renewable energy and utility projects. Still, most firms are racing ahead, trying to rough out strategies to redistribute their resources. Some companies are also attempting to think up creative solutions, like retraining staff from other specialties.
In conversations with partners, firms often play with the idea of limiting the types of projects they’ll accept. Executives sometimes need to talk it through with stakeholders before making such choices, weighing risks against opportunities. To generate new approaches, teams regularly bounce off ideas with colleagues and clients, while also batting around long-term strategies to avoid burning out their workforce.
Experts say the crunch might be temporary. Once regulations stabilize the market, the shortages could ease, and the field may normalize. But for now, companies are locked in a balancing act — trying to ride the AI wave without letting the growing pains overwhelm them.
Vocabulary List
catch on – to become understood or popular
Example: The AI boom hasn’t fully caught on yet because of labor and power shortages.
Practice: What new technology has been slow to catch on with the public?
grapple with – to struggle to deal with a challenge
Example: Companies must grapple with both labor shortages and supply chain problems.
Practice: What is one problem society is currently grappling with?
piece together – to combine information to form a complete picture
Example: Analysts are trying to piece together the scale of the engineering shortfall.
Practice: Have you ever had to piece together information from many sources?
keep up – to maintain the same speed or level of progress
Example: Data centers are expanding so quickly that firms can hardly keep up.
Practice: How do you keep up with new developments in technology?
occur to – to come into someone’s mind suddenly
Example: It didn’t occur to some firms that hiring engineers away could hurt other sectors.
Practice: Has it ever suddenly occurred to you that you forgot something important?
rough out – to sketch or plan roughly without final details
Example: Companies are trying to rough out strategies to deal with shortages.
Practice: Do you like to rough out a plan first or decide details later?
think up – to invent or create something new
Example: Some firms are trying to think up creative solutions like retraining staff.
Practice: Can you think up a new way to reduce traffic in cities?
play with an idea – to consider an idea without committing to it
Example: Executives often play with the idea of limiting projects to manage workloads.
Practice: What new hobby or job have you played with the idea of trying?
talk it through – to discuss something carefully before deciding
Example: Leaders need to talk it through with stakeholders before choosing projects.
Practice: When was the last time you had to talk it through before making a decision?
bounce off – to share ideas with someone to get feedback
Example: Teams often bounce off ideas with colleagues to find solutions.
Practice: Who do you usually bounce off ideas with when you need advice?
bat around – to casually discuss different possibilities
Example: Executives batted around strategies to handle the engineer shortage.
Practice: What’s something you and your friends like to bat around when you chat?
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