As the demand for data centres continues to rise, fuelled by the unabating appetite for cloud storage and the exponential rise in the use of AI, supply chains have had to adapt and expand. While lead times for important data centre equipment have come down from their peak, and the supply chain has opened to greater competition, any additional capacity among manufacturers is quickly absorbed by the high demand. 

Across Europe, the availability of skilled labour and qualified contractors for data centre construction remains under significant strain. The surge in demand has outpaced the supply of experienced tradespeople, particularly in mechanical, electrical, and commissioning roles. This labour shortage is now a critical factor in site selection and project planning, with developers prioritising locations that offer stronger talent pools.