Growing IT

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In 2006, Capital Area Michigan Works! commissioned a Labor Market Information (LMI) Report to examine some of the workforce development trends impacting the information technology sector in the Greater Lansing Region. With help from a local IT advisory panel, the “Growing IT: Opportunities for the Capital Area” report was released in April of 2007. The findings in the report provided justification for the submission of an application for a Michigan Regional Skills Alliance (MI RSA). This alliance is focused on information technology and the necessary grant resources needed to form the Capital Area IT Council. Some of the key findings from the “Growing It” report include:

  • The Information Technology (IT) industry is one of the fastest growing in the Capital area.  Between 1998 and 2004, the IT industry grew by 20 percent, which is seven times faster than the rate of all jobs.
  • The Information Technology industry directly engages in the digital economy.
  • The Information Technology industry encompasses 300 + local IT companies and provides 4,500 jobs in the Lansing area.
  • IT employees in any industry provide more than 9,000 workers in the region.  The jobs include IT professionals working outside of the actual IT industry at banks, schools, etc.
  • Employment opportunities in the Capital area abound at high pay in an extensive range of IT-related occupations and skills.  Earnings in the IT industry are 75 percent higher than the average for all industries.
  • The educational requirements for Information Technology jobs are high, with most jobs requiring some college or Bachelor’s degrees and beyond.
  • There is en extensive range of education and training programs in the Lansing area for those interested in the IT industry.
  • The IT companies in the region are creating the “new” jobs of the 21st century, however, they need to acquire more workers in order to grow in the Lansing area.
  • The vitality and opportunities available with the local IT industry are often overlooked among Capital area businesses and residents.

For more information, or to access a copy of the full report, visit:

http://www.capitalareaitcouncil.org/images/documents/growingit.pdf

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