Archive · 16 Sep 2026
AI Data-Center Boom Drives Demand for Steel-Toe Boots
Artificial-intelligence companies are building many large data centers.
These projects need lots of construction workers.
Construction workers need strong boots to protect their feet.
Boot Barn says data-center builders are now buying many boots in bulk.
The company watches where data centers are being built so its stores have the right boots.
Brunt Workwear says it is also seeing strong demand.
California and Texas are two places with many AI infrastructure investments.
The building boom creates jobs and helps workwear companies.
However, some people are worried about the energy and water that data centers use.
Boot Barn says more bulk workwear orders are coming from data-center construction projects.
The retailer is tracking nearby data-center projects to decide which boots to stock locally.
Boot Barn’s work-boot comparable sales have grown for five consecutive quarters.
U.S. construction added 22,000 jobs in August as demand for data-center labor increased.
Brunt Workwear also reports strong demand from California and Texas data-center projects.
- Who
- Boot Barn, Brunt Workwear, data-center construction workers, and AI infrastructure companies.
- What
- The expansion of data-center construction is increasing demand for work boots and other workwear.
- When
- The reports describe developments this year, including August construction employment data and comments made on Tuesday at a September 15 conference.
- Where
- The trend is occurring in the United States, particularly in California and Texas; Boot Barn discussed it at a Goldman Sachs conference in New York.
- Why
- AI-related data-center construction requires large numbers of workers who need work boots and other protective workwear.
Benefits of Data-Center Expansion
Concerns About Data-Center Expansion
Economic effects
Benefits of Data-Center Expansion
Data-center construction is increasing demand for labor, work boots, and other workwear, while contributing to construction job growth.
Concerns About Data-Center Expansion
The articles note that communities are increasingly challenging the energy and water demands of new data-center facilities.
Pace of AI development
Benefits of Data-Center Expansion
The continuing construction activity reflects substantial investment in AI infrastructure across the United States.
Concerns About Data-Center Expansion
Some AI executives have recently urged caution about the pace of AI development.
- Boot Barn stores
- Nearly 600 stores across the United States
- Boot Barn work-boot sales
- Comparable sales have grown for five consecutive quarters
- Construction jobs added
- 22,000 U.S. construction jobs were added in August
- Demand centers
- California and Texas are seeing strong demand tied to data-center construction
- Boot requirements
- Regular work boots are used during dirt clearing, while steel-toe boots are used when building walls
- Other concerns
- Communities are pushing back against the energy and water demands of new data centers