Educational Advancement in the Tech Industry

As the tech industry grows in the City of Bloomington, Ellettsville, and Monroe County, the need for high quality workforce candidates does as well. Tech employment grew to 121,600 in 2023 in the state of Indiana. (Techpoint) This number is the highest level of overall tech employment ever in the state. The rise in available tech jobs represents an increasing demand for technologically proficient talent.

Monroe County is home to one of America’s top research universities– Indiana University and the largest singly-accredited community college in the country, Ivy Tech. The county boasts an impressively educated population with 48.2% of residents holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. 94.7% of Monroe County residents have earned at least a high school diploma.

The state of Indiana is home to world-renowned public and private research universities like Purdue University,  The University of Notre Dame, and Ball State University, as well as Indiana’s first college, Vincennes University. The link between these higher education facilities and Bloomington Tech drives workforce development and innovation in the region and fills the need for highly skilled candidates.

The Dynamic Force of Technology and Research in Bloomington Area Higher Education 

Tech talent and research make great strides here. Indiana University’s Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Kelley School of Business, and the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs facilitate nationally-ranked programs in innovation and technology. Kelley School of Business is ranked #9 overall best undergraduate business program and Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs has the #1 Master of Public Affairs in the nation, among other accolades. The cutting-edge research centers and labs at Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering draw top researchers and resources in artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and data science together to give students the freedom to research pressing technological challenges that affect the future of the nation.  

Ivy Tech’s broad array of training programs, including undergrad degrees as well as accelerated skills training certificates, address real-world industry needs, providing the local tech workforce with a unique edge that makes them invaluable to the growing market. Students at Ivy Tech also have access to apprenticeship programs that allow them to connect with local employers and earn wages as they gain more advanced tech-related skills on the job. Students in Monroe County benefit from these competitive training programs and generous financial assistance. 3,000 Hoosiers have been trained using the Employer Training Grant through Next Level Jobs alone.

The dynamic force of technology and research at Bloomington area colleges and universities lead to the development of new products and services that revolutionize the technological industry throughout the world. These contributions to tech transform other vital industries like healthcare, transportation, and communication.

Students Prepared for Success 

Tech industry jobs in Indiana provide stable employment, career growth opportunities, and pay more than double the state’s median wage. (Techpoint, 2023) Traditional students and those continuing their education graduate from our higher education facilities with real-world experience, internship hours, and connections within the tech industry through Bloomington Tech that guarantee their success in the field.