Why Europe’s Data Centre Commissioning Crisis Will Peak in 2026

Hannah Pooley • January 29, 2026

Europe’s Data Centre Boom: The Pressure Building

Europe is entering a period of unprecedented growth in data centre projects. Rapid adoption of cloud services, AI workloads, and major hyperscale investments are driving expansion across the region. Core markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, and Ireland are scaling quickly, while secondary locations are accelerating timelines to capture emerging opportunities.

Between 2025 and 2027, a record number of European data centre construction projects are scheduled for delivery. This surge is intensifying competition for specialist talent, particularly in data centre commissioning, and reshaping expectations around careers and progression within mission-critical infrastructure jobs. Without experienced commissioning teams, projects risk delays that directly impact operational readiness and delivery schedules.

Commissioning Skills Shortage: The Human Bottleneck

The rapid growth of hyperscale and cloud data centre expansion is outpacing the availability of skilled commissioning engineers and MEP specialists. These roles carry some of the most complex data centre job requirements, from managing intricate electrical and mechanical systems to ensuring operational uptime at handover.

The shortage is driven by a limited pool of professionals with the depth of experience required. As a result, developers are increasingly relying on specialist data centre recruitment agencies to secure the right talent. This commissioning workforce shortage is already affecting project timelines, with delays to handover and go-live dates becoming more common.

Why the Crisis Will Peak in 2026

Commissioning pressure is expected to reach its peak in 2026 as a significant volume of projects converge at the delivery stage. Demand for commissioning engineers across Europe is expected to outpace supply more sharply than in previous years. Contractor rates are rising as competition intensifies, and short-term hiring solutions are struggling to keep pace with delivery schedules.

This projection is grounded in project pipeline realities rather than speculation. Organisations that fail to plan ahead risk delays, cost escalation and operational disruption, highlighting the urgent need for proactive workforce strategies.

Secure Commissioning talent for 2026 projects here.

Key Trends Shaping Recruitment

The upcoming peak in commissioning demand is already influencing recruitment and workforce planning. Key trends include:

Longer hiring timelines for commissioning roles as competition for skilled professionals intensifies
Greater reliance on specialist data centre recruitment agencies to access experienced talent quickly
Increased emphasis on international hiring and relocation packages to attract qualified professionals

These trends highlight the need for organisations to rethink how they approach talent acquisition and retention within the data centre sector.

Strategies to Ease the Commissioning Bottleneck

Organisations can take practical steps to mitigate the impact of the 2026 peak:

Upskilling engineers to bridge experience gaps
Early engagement with recruitment partners to align talent pipelines with project delivery schedules
Investment in structured training, mentoring, and clearly defined data centre job requirements
Leveraging specialist agencies to recruit at scale and speed for data centre projects

These measures help ensure commissioning teams are available when needed and strengthen long-term data centre workforce capability.

Turning a Peak Crisis into a Long-Term Opportunity

Although 2026 represents the height of commissioning pressure, it also presents significant opportunities for both engineers and organisations. Professionals entering commissioning roles now gain valuable experience in mission-critical infrastructure projects, positioning them for accelerated career growth.

Organisations adopting proactive recruitment strategies can avoid costly delays and deliver complex projects on time. Structured data centre career pathways and development programmes help retain top talent and maintain workforce stability in a highly competitive market.

By planning early, investing in people, and partnering with specialist recruiters, Europe’s data centre sector can turn the commissioning peak from a potential crisis into a long-term competitive advantage, delivering the digital infrastructure the region increasingly relies on.