AIBU to point out that datacentres don't provide local employment?

They are not like nuclear power stations that need constant water, they are more like a closed system in a car. It’s the same water circulating being cooled in radiators then being pumped about and warmed by the cpus then cooled again by the radiators.

Yeah, I guess it's impossible to predict where those jobs will be.

We do all benefit from economic growth through and if a growing economy needs data centres then the local community benefits indirectly.

It's always a challenge to find places for these big infrastructure projects. Obviously local people don't like them (which I understand). I wonder if the government is 'compensating' the local community at all with extra spending / investment. I doubt it would make the project popular but might help offset some of the objections.

Meant to quote @TheRealMagic

Surely they're also completely environmentally unfriendly and energy and water intensive? Their existence seems to completely contradict everything we are told about reducing our energy footprint and industry causing climate change. How will they actually benefit normal people and how will their energy and water use impact sustainability and climate change?

You're right, but they're deliberately being a bit fuzzy about these jobs because even if a new data centre does create 3400 jobs (very unproven) they won't be in Lanarkshire.

You're entirely right, OP - though I'm not sure the government is being fooled as you suggest. The jury is very much out on whether AI will grow the economy overall, but it certainly won't do it where the data centres are. That dynamic is already playing out in the US, where they're further ahead with building them - deprived, rural areas are getting all the environmental damage but none of the benefits.

Data centres are a bit of a problem for modern globalisation, as the countries whose regimes will normally do any amount of damage to their land for money are mostly climatically unsuited to it, or not places you want to control vital infrastructure. So the tech billionaires have to persuade politicians outsource it to the poor parts of their own country rather than outsourcing to somewhere less developed like normal. They do it in the most disingenous ways. I heard Sam Altman being asked why the people of Utah would want a data centre bigger than Manhattan and that uses more than twice the electricity the whole state does currently, and he said that they would benefit if AI cures cancer...

Are you sure they mean to staff the data centres?

I assume, data centres 'create jobs' by encouraging / making it possible for other businesses to operate?

In what way?

Our local one employs a few security guards. But they also fund a huge training scheme with the local council, which has offered amazing opportunities apparently.

They provide plenty of employment during the construction phase, and jobs, which is the short term approach of a desperate Government with no long term approach to the economy ;)

Well, since datacentres will make places unliveable anyway it probably doesn't matter.

Are the government claiming the datacentres will provide long-term employment?

How long-term?