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From Megawatts to Multipliers: The Data Center Effect on Industrial Demand, Jobs and Local Revenue

7/20/2026
Data centers are often viewed as power-intensive infrastructure with limited direct employment impact. Our latest research highlights a much broader story, one where data center growth is driving industrial demand, creating jobs, and generating meaningful economic benefits for local markets. 
Key Insights:
  • Job creation at scale: Data center-related tenants in the six markets analyzed in this report leased 40 msf of industrial space, and this activity created an estimated 81,000 to 124,000 total industrial and downstream jobs.
  • A growing driver of industrial demand: Data center–related tenants accounted for more than 10% of new industrial leasing activity across key U.S. markets.
  • Rapid acceleration: Industrial leasing tied to data centers increased 44% YOY in 2025, reaching a record 14.4% share of new industrial leasing.
  • Meaningful economic contribution: This analysis indicates that every 100MW of new data center development creates nearly 1,300 jobs in the local economy, generating approximately $110 million in annual wages, $334 million in gross output, and $187 million in gross regional product.

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Why it matters

As data center development accelerates, its role as a catalyst for employment growth, local economic activity and industrial leasing continues to expand. These findings provide important context for investors and occupiers evaluating opportunities in markets with growing data center activity.







 

Download the full report to explore market-level insights, economic impact analysis, and the evolving role of data centers in driving industrial demand.

Authors

Cameron Martin
Cameron Martin

Research Manager, Canada
Toronto, Canada

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Jason-Price-2022-Headshot
Jason Price

Senior Director, Americas Head of Logistics & Industrial Research, Global Research
Iselin, United States

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John McWilliams
John McWilliams

Head of Data Center Insights
Denver, United States

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David C Smith (image)
David Smith

Head of Americas Insights, Global Research
Atlanta, United States

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