Investment firms are looking to new kinds of partnerships as the historic data-center construction boom strains resources, including labor.

BlackRock and its new AI infrastructure fund have signed an agreement with North America's Building Trades Unions, which represents more than 3 million skilled construction workers in the U.S. and Canada.

Under the pact, BlackRock and its AI infrastructure fund partners-which include Microsoft and Nvidia-will share early details of their construction plans with NABTU to better staff future projects. BlackRock and NABTU also intend to expand apprenticeships, strengthen training and establish more recruitment initiatives.

Labor shortages can delay projects, and the issue is expected to worsen in the coming years as the data center boom boosts demand electricians. AI hyperscalers and the investment firms backing them are looking for ways to avoid delays at any cost.

"Strategic access to NABTU's highly trained workforce is a competitive advantage," said Will Brilliant, chief executive of BlackRock's AI Infrastructure Partnership.

The BlackRock-NABTU partnership is the latest in a series of moves by companies and investors to promote skilled trades, an issue that BlackRock Chief Executive Larry Fink has focused on in public comments in recent months.

"The infrastructure buildout required to drive innovation is creating a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in American workers," Fink said in a statement.