Digital infrastructure rarely makes headlines. Yet it quietly underpins nearly every modern innovation, from artificial intelligence and cloud computing to 5G connectivity and edge networks. Behind the hyperscale data centers and fiber routes reshaping the global economy lies a less visible challenge that has become existential for the industry: skilled labor. Kelly Digital Infrastructure was built to solve that problem.
A focused digital infrastructure group within Kelly, the global workforce solutions company, Kelly Digital Infrastructure focuses exclusively on the talent and delivery demands of data centers, telecom networks, private 5G, and AI-driven infrastructure. It operates at the intersection of engineering, technology, and telecommunications, providing workforce solutions that span the full lifecycle of mission-critical infrastructure projects.
“We are not here to fill seats. We exist to solve resourcing problems at the pace and scale this industry now requires.”
– Jake Rasweiler, Senior Vice President of Data Centers and Digital Infrastructure Services –
Built for a New Kind of Constraint
Kelly Digital Infrastructure emerged from a clear inflection point. As demand for data centers and connectivity surged, traditional staffing approaches began to break down. Projects stalled; deadlines slipped; and internal teams burned out trying to compete for the same shrinking pool of specialists.
“The challenge wasn’t technology or capital,” Jake explains. “It was labor: skilled trades, commissioning experts, power specialists, network engineers. The shortage was real, and it was putting entire projects at risk.”
Rather than treating the problem as a temporary spike, Kelly recognized it as a structural shift. Kelly Digital Infrastructure was formed to respond with a new model, one capable of supporting everything from greenfield site development to commissioning, operations, and AI optimization.
In just three years, the team has helped clients place more than 9,000 professionals across critical infrastructure environments. That scale reflects not just demand, but a deliberate strategy to rethink how workforce solutions are delivered in one of the most talent-constrained sectors in the world.
Cradle-to-Grave Infrastructure Support
At the core of Kelly Digital Infrastructure’s approach is full-lifecycle support across design, construction, commissioning, and operations. Rather than staffing isolated roles, the group supports entire project phases, aligning workforce strategy with build timelines, risk profiles, and operational realities.
The division offers technical staffing, scope-of-work project teams, and direct hire services across data centers, fiber network planning, private 5G, power infrastructure, and AI and DevOps environments. Its clients include construction firms, engineering companies, and manufacturers supplying essential components such as generators, switchgear, and electrical systems.
“We build project-ready teams. That might mean rapid deployment during commissioning, long-term workforce planning during expansion, or outcome-based solutions tied to delivery milestones. The model flexes to match what the project actually needs.”
– Jake Rasweiler, Senior Vice President –
This delivery agility is supported by Kelly’s national footprint, global reach, and one of the industry’s most sophisticated recruiting engines. Combined with a strong program and project management framework, the team can scale quickly without sacrificing quality or accountability.
Innovation Driven by Pressure
Ask Kelly Digital Infrastructure what innovation means, and the answer is pragmatic rather than theoretical. “Innovation is not about chasing trends,” Jake explains. “It is about anticipating where pressure will hit next and building solutions before clients feel the squeeze.”
That mindset has shaped how the division sources talent. Rather than recycling the same small pool of candidates, Kelly Digital Infrastructure draws from adjacent industries, identifying transferable skills and creating new pathways into infrastructure roles. This cross-disciplinary approach helps clients access broader labor pools while building more resilient teams.
“We see incredible talent in industries that are adjacent to data centers and telecom. When you rethink where skills can come from, you unlock capacity that others miss.”
– Jake Rasweiler, Senior Vice President –
The Tipping Point
The tipping point for accelerated growth came when market pressure collided with preparation. As demand intensified and labor shortages became impossible to ignore, Kelly Digital Infrastructure had already built the recruiting infrastructure, leadership capability, and client trust needed to respond.
“When the pressure peaked, we were ready,” Jake says. “That foundation allowed us to scale quickly, and that’s when the business really took off.”
Today, the team operates at the center of one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy, supporting hyperscale builds, edge deployments, and AI integration projects where downtime and delay carry enormous cost.
Shaping the Infrastructure Ecosystem
Kelly Digital Infrastructure contributes to the innovation ecosystem by addressing what it sees as the number one operational risk in digital infrastructure: labor availability. Through rapid deployment models, long-term workforce planning, and cross-training strategies, the team helps clients execute ambitious plans even in the most constrained environments.
The company is also expanding its role in workforce development, building partnerships to upskill and diversify the talent pipeline. By identifying transferable skills and supporting new career pathways, Kelly Digital Infrastructure aims to create scalable, lasting solutions rather than short-term fixes.
“We are not just solving today’s problem,” Jake notes. “We are building future-ready teams.”
Looking Ahead
Looking forward, Kelly Digital Infrastructure sees opportunity in both scale and depth. As AI, connectivity, and digital services continue to reshape industries, the demand for reliable, resilient infrastructure will only grow. So will the need for specialized talent to design, build, and operate it.
“We are at the heart of a sector that is reshaping the world. What excites me is solving the infrastructure labor crisis in a way that lasts.”
– Jake Rasweiler, Senior Vice President –
The final message from Kelly Digital Infrastructure is clear and direct. “The labor gap is real,” Jake says. “If you see it too, let’s solve it together.”
With a strong presence in Northern Virginia and beyond, Kelly Digital Infrastructure is proving that innovation in digital infrastructure is about more than technology. It is about people, execution, and the ability to meet the moment when the world’s most critical systems are on the line.
