The Globe and Mail reports in its Monday edition that demand for data centres is booming around the world because of generative artificial intelligence. The Globe's Joe Castaldo writes that Synergy Research estimates the capacity of hyperscale facilities will nearly triple by 2030. Ottawa is trying to boost construction of AI data centres in Canada, too. Bell said last week it would open six facilities in British Columbia, while Telus plans to convert two of its data centres to handle AI. The surge in activity, however, will likely not create an employment boom -- at least not directly. Job creation is a routine part of the pitch from data centre operators when presenting plans to municipalities to host these facilities, and the lasting economic benefits are an important consideration. Most of the job creation tied to data centres, however, happens during the construction phase, and a large facility might require more than 1,000 people. Not all data-centre jobs require high-tech expertise. Some roles are security guards, administration staff and general building maintenance. Inside, technology expertise is required: Equipment often fails, requiring workers to diagnose, troubleshoot and replace malfunctioning parts.