TECH SECTOR GAINS MOMENTUM
TechPoint Report: Software Developers Most in Demand; Competition is High for Top Talent

Special thanks to
Lilly Endowment Inc. and Katz, Sapper & Miller
for providing research funding through the CICP Foundation.

The technology sector in Central Indiana is proving once again that it is gaining momentum and is generally growing at a rate faster than the national average, according to a new report by TechPoint, Indiana’s technology growth initiative. The TechPoint Workforce Report: Employment Trends and the Demand for Computer-Related Talent in Central Indiana shows that computer-related employment from 2009-2012 in the Indianapolis-Carmel Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) grew 7.3 percent while job growth of all occupations in the same area grew 2 percent. That’s compared to a decline of all occupations nationally of 0.3 percent for the same period of time. 

The largest concentration of the more than 61,000 computer-related occupations in Indiana can be found in the Indianapolis-Carmel MSA. The report shows that in 2012, 48 percent of those jobs were located in the capital city and Carmel, followed by eight percent in Fort Wayne. 

Of those computer-related occupations, software applications developers were the most in demand and commanded a median salary of $77,700, more than twice the median salary for all occupations in the Indianapolis MSA, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2012. Software developers design and create software including writing code in languages like JavaScript, SQL, HTML, C and Ruby.

“We’ve seen in a recent Forbes article, for example, that Indianapolis is one of the top 10 metro areas for technology job growth. This report reinforces the growth and demand in our region,” said Mike Langellier, president and CEO, TechPoint. “Additionally, since 2007, 12 tech community companies in Central Indiana have either been acquired or have gone public, generating $4.5 billion in market value and creating more than 3,700 Indiana jobs, demonstrating the momentum of the tech sector and the continued need for top talent.” 

According to the report, nearly 9,000 computer-related jobs were posted in the Indianapolis-Carmel MSA in 2013. Of those postings, where education requirements could be identified, more than 88 percent required at least a bachelor’s degree. 

Another interesting finding in the report was that not just tech product companies like Interactive Intelligence and ExactTarget need tech talent. Some companies and organizations posting the most jobs in 2013 were Indiana University, Best Buy, Cummins and CNO Financial Group. 

“This data shows us that more needs to be done to continue to foster collaboration between universities and companies to make sure that we are producing top talent and creating the highly skilled jobs that meet the demand for all of the companies that leverage technology,” said Langellier. 

This report is the first in a series of reports based on data from TechPoint’s 2013 tech workforce study that also included a survey of 26 Central Indiana tech companies. As a preview of reports to come, the survey found that 85 percent of those companies experienced a high level of competition for talent in Indiana and 65 percent perceived a skills gap between available talent and the jobs that the companies are looking to fill. 

The company survey and workforce analysis were performed with assistance from Loyalty Research Center, Morris Lloyd & Associates, Hire Up Indy and the Department of Workforce Development. Lilly Endowment Inc. and Katz, Sapper & Miller provided research funding through the CICP Foundation. 

To access the full report, please visit techpoint.org/workforcereport1 or click here.

About TechPoint
TechPoint is Indiana’s technology initiative focused on being a powerful voice for Indiana’s tech sector through marketing and thought leadership, and being a catalyst for strategic growth initiatives – specifically talent recruitment, entrepreneurship, and marketing tech and health information technology (HIT) cluster development. TechPoint is an initiative of the Central Indiana Corporate Partnership (CICP). Visit techpoint.org for more information.

About Lilly Endowment Inc.
Lilly Endowment Inc. is an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created in 1937 by J.K. Lilly and his two sons, Eli and J.K. Jr., with gifts of stock in their pharmaceutical company. In keeping with the founders’ wishes, the Endowment supports the causes of community development, education and religion and maintains a special commitment to its hometown, Indianapolis, and home state, Indiana. More information can be found at www.lillyendowment.org.

About Katz, Sapper & Miller
As one of the top 65 CPA firms in the nation, Katz, Sapper & Miller has earned a reputation as a leader in the areas of accounting, tax and consulting services. Founded in 1942, the firm has more than 260 employees and is headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., with additional offices in Fort Wayne, Ind., and New York. Katz, Sapper & Miller was named one of the “Best of the Best” accounting firms in the nation by INSIDE Public Accounting magazine and has been recognized by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce as one of the “Best Places to Work in Indiana” for nine consecutive years. The firm is an independent member of Nexia International, a leading global organization of independent accounting and consulting firms. For more information, visit us at ksmcpa.com.