Firmus forecasts 8,900 jobs in Tasmania by 2035
Firmus says its planned Tasmanian AI data centers could contribute up to $46 billion to the state economy by 2035 and support about 8,900 ongoing full-time equivalent jobs. The estimates were presented to a parliamentary inquiry as the company outlined its expansion plans and local workforce needs.
Firmus forecasts 8,900 jobs in Tasmania by 2035, with its planned AI data centers contributing up to $46 billion to the state economy, co-founder and co-chief executive Tim Rosenfield told a parliamentary inquiry on Tuesday.
The estimates come from preliminary modelling in a third-party study commissioned at the state government’s request. Rosenfield said an extract had been given to the inquiry committee and the study was close to being finalized.
Firmus points to ongoing roles
The forecast counts about 8,900 ongoing full-time equivalent jobs by 2035, rather than only temporary construction work. Rosenfield said Firmus operates its own facilities, which require workers with technical skills and an onsite presence.
“That requires skills, it requires onsite presence, it requires learning pathways,” Rosenfield said.
Firmus was founded in Launceston in 2019. It is building an AI factory at St Leonards, has plans for Wesley Vale and has approval for a 288-megawatt facility at Bell Bay.
Rosenfield said the company had retrained workers who lost jobs at northern Tasmania’s smelters, helping them gain electrical and mechanical qualifications. Firmus also employs about 40 people outside its facilities, including coders and developers in Hobart and Launceston.
“We need a lot more people outside the data centre than we actually do inside the data centre,” he said.
Inquiry hears concerns about lasting jobs
TasICT Chief Executive Russell Kelly told the inquiry that data centers create jobs during construction but employ far fewer people once they are operating. He said the number of operational jobs was limited compared with an aluminum smelter.
Kelly proposed a community benefit fund to support skills pathways by linking data center projects with TasTAFE and the University of Tasmania. He said Tasmania’s technology workforce was forecast to grow from 10,800 to 11,500 workers over the next decade.
Business, Industry and Resources Minister Felix Ellis described Firmus’ planned $2.7 billion investment as “the largest private technology investment that we have ever seen in Tasmania”. He said it would provide a major boost to the state’s construction sector.
Ellis said the government’s final statement of expectations for data centers, including a local community benefit fund, would be released soon.
Company says growth plans remain
Rosenfield also said Firmus was funding a subsea internet cable to mainland Australia with its partner Subco, which he said would substantially improve Tasmania’s connectivity.
Asked about shelving a planned share market float the previous month, Rosenfield said Firmus had “extremely supportive shareholders”, including Nvidia. “We decided not to pursue that particular transaction, but it doesn’t change our growth plans, not one bit,” he said.
