Reuters reports that Nevada data center construction is providing union work, while projections for AI and automation raise questions about Las Vegas service jobs before voters choose a governor Tuesday, Nov. 3.
EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure plans three data centers on 56 acres at its Reno campus. The completed site is planned to have nearly 1 million square feet and 216 megawatts of critical IT capacity, the company says. Storey County says the wider Tahoe Reno Industrial Center covers 107,000 acres.
Reuters' reporting describes thousands of Nevada union workers taking construction jobs tied to data center projects. Christopher Williams, a worker profiled by the outlet, said he earns more than $22 an hour for 45 to 60 hours a week, compared with $18.50 an hour as a line cook.
In a November 2025 analysis, RCG Economics estimated that AI and automation might affect 77,000 to 92,000 core hotel-casino positions by 2035. It put potential wage losses at $4.5 billion to $5.3 billion. The estimate concerns positions that could be affected, not confirmed layoffs.
MGM Resorts International’s second-quarter 2026 investor presentation lists conversational AI for guest bookings, digital concierge services, labor optimization and robotic or AI-assisted cleaning. MGM groups these tools under initiatives to make operations more efficient.
Teamsters Nevada political director Ross Kinson told Reuters that MGM laid off around 200 call-center workers in 2025. MGM did not confirm the figure to Reuters and referred the outlet to its 2023 labor agreement with the Culinary Union. Reuters did not tie the reported cuts to AI. Kinson also told Reuters, “My job is to represent all of our unions.”
Waymo began offering public driverless rides in Las Vegas on Sept. 14, 2026, and Zoox lists the city as a ride location. The companies’ announcements confirm local service availability but do not quantify any employment effects.
Teamsters Nevada says it represents more than 30,000 members statewide and has endorsed Democratic gubernatorial candidate and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford. Ford proposes pausing new data center tax abatements while the state audits whether companies met their commitments; his campaign also says data centers should pay for the energy and grid infrastructure they use. Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo’s Sept. 18 executive order sets conditions for developers seeking partial abatements, including full payment of the Local School Support Tax and requirements related to water, the grid and ratepayer costs.
A five-year agreement reached in 2023 covers more than 25,400 workers at eight MGM properties in Las Vegas. The Culinary Union says the deal provides advance notice when new technology could affect jobs, training for roles created by technology, and extended health care and pension contributions for workers laid off because of new technology.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that union members made up 13% of Nevada wage and salary workers in 2025, compared with 10% nationally. The agency calculated Nevada’s rate using 11 months of data, excluding October, and advises caution in interpreting the estimate. Nevada’s general election is Tuesday, Nov. 3.
