Copper, Labor Shortages & Empty Offices

The Punch List · Jul 23, 2026 · 26m · transcript

AI is driving demand for data centers, but the ripple effects go far beyond technology.

In Episode 2 of The Punch List, Jon Wright, TK, and Kanav Hasija discuss rising copper prices, the growing shortage of skilled trades, and why converting office buildings into housing is far more complicated than many people realize.

They explore material escalation, the retirement wave hitting the construction workforce, business opportunities hiding inside labor shortages, and whether adaptive reuse can solve America's office vacancy problem.

CHAPTERS:

(00:00) Intro

(01:09) Copper prices and the AI data…