JA JobSpark: Sparking Early Interest in Indy’s High-Tech Careers

Indy Chamber News Archives

In a few weeks, classes will be underway on college and university campuses across Indiana…and one trend is certain to continue:  Each incoming group of freshmen are a little more tech-savvy than the last, using their devices for studying, socializing and streamlining their daily routines.

But for some students, technology isn’t just a tool – it’s a career plan.  Majors like computer science, programming and computer engineering offer lucrative opportunities to new college grads: According to the Indiana Commission for Higher Education, the typical tech graduate (bachelor’s degree) can expect to earn nearly $50,000 a year out of school – 50% more than the average of all four-year degrees in Indiana.

These healthy paychecksmatch a healthy demand for computer skills across nearly every industry, and a recent boom in Indy’s technology sector.  But many young people may not make the connection that the technologies that make their lives easier can also pay off with a rewarding career.  It’s never too early to spark their interest and imagination.

In late September, Marion County 8^th-graders will get a first-hand look at the wide array of high-tech job opportunities waiting for them after college, from software engineering to social media, network administration and tech support.

This glimpse into the high-tech future comes courtesy of JA JobSpark.  As we’ve written before, JA JobSpark is a hands-on career expo for Indianapolis 8th graders.  The two-day event will be held on September 26^th and 27^th this year at the Indiana State Fairgrounds; Junior Achievement of Central Indiana organizes the event with support from a coalition of business and industry leaders, educators, and public sector partners. 

JA JobSpark gives students an up-close, hands-on look at Indianapolis companies in our fastest-growing industries – and no sector is enjoying stronger momentum or commanding more headlines than Indy’s technology economy. 

We’ve covered many highlights of this high-tech hot streak, but to recap:

• In the annual ‘Tech Thirty’ report released Fall 2016 by commercial real estate firm CBRE,  Indy ranked 5^th among major metros for tech employment gains over the last two years (outpacing even Silicon Valley);
• Indy is adding high-tech computer systems and data jobs at twice the rate of other big cities, based on a 2016 Brookings Institution analysis;
• In 2016, Forbes has called Indy an emerging “tech hub on the move,” while a 2017 New York Times feature noted that “the city has steadily, if quietly, become a center for new technology, particularly software.”
• The industry keeps growing – technology leads the way in recent corporate investment and job commitments, according to the Indy Partnership, with homegrown start-ups ramping up with help from co-working and accelerator facilities like DeveloperTown and Launch Fishers;
• Looking beyond Central Indiana, 22 Indiana tech companies made the 2017 Inc. 5000 ‘Fastest Growing’ list;
• All told, the technology sector in Indiana contributes $14 billion in gross regional product annually.

This growth is predicated on talent – the ability of employers to recruit people with specialized skills.  Tech companies that invest in Indianapolis want confidence in a strong pipeline of young workers. 

Earlier this summer, digital cloud giant Salesforce made Indianapolis just the fourth city in the world – after San Francisco, London and New York – to have a Salesforce Tower.  But along with its eye-catching plans to grow its local workforce by 800, the company added another piece of good news that’s also a smart investment in the future – adding 500 local apprentices through its FutureForce initiative by 2020.  Salesforce, like all progressive, growing businesses, makes people a priority and plans ahead to attract up-and-coming talent. 

That’s also why the Indy Chamber is a proud partner in JA JobSpark: It’s critically important that today’s 8^th-graders – most of whom will be in the workforce in less than a decade – start thinking about college and career success.  While the regional economy will continue to evolve, the program aligns with areas where employer demand will be strong for years to come. 

JA expects roughly 2000 volunteers to be on hand coordinating the event on September 26^th and 27^th, with hundreds of employers – including many of our leading technology companies – connecting with more than 8,500 students from approximately 50 schools across Central Indiana.

There’s still timeto join us and the rest of the business community in supporting this important endeavor.  Check out www.jajobspark.org for more details and opportunities to get engaged.  JA JobSpark supports the future of economic development in metro Indy, and shows our young neighbors that when it comes to career ambitions, the sky – or the digital cloud – is the limit.