Microelectronics may be Indiana’s smallest manufacturing subsector today, but it is one of the fastest-growing and most strategically important. With just over 11,000 workers and a $1.7 billion contribution to GDP, the sector is powered by strong federal investments and Indiana’s designation as a national tech hub.
From semiconductors and circuit boards to advanced communications systems, microelectronics is critical to nearly every modern industry—including automotive, medical technology, aerospace and defense.
A High-Tech Workforce
As outlined in Future Ready: Advancing Indiana’s Productivity through Critical Manufacturing Subsectors, microelectronics stands out with 34% of its workforce in tech-enabled roles, second only to aerospace. This concentration signals significant productivity potential, but also reveals that the sector’s need for highly skilled, niche technical talent far exceeds the current pipeline.
Workforce Needs
The study highlights a range of roles essential to the sector’s advancement:
- Most critical roles: software engineers, electrical engineers, firmware and systems engineers, manufacturing and test engineers and cybersecurity specialists, all of which are crucial for both commercial and defense applications
- Critical roles: electronic assemblers, machinists, quality inspectors and field service technicians, who support cleanroom operations and production
Strategic Momentum
Indiana’s microelectronics growth is being fueled by landmark federal investments, defense contracts and the collaborative efforts of industry, universities and state leaders. These developments are positioning the state as a national hub for semiconductor and advanced electronics production—an industry critical to U.S. supply chain security.
The Opportunity
Microelectronics offers Indiana an unparalleled opportunity to lead in one of the nation’s most essential industries. To realize this potential, Indiana must expand its highly skilled talent base and invest in the workforce pipelines that will supply engineers, technicians and cybersecurity professionals for decades to come.
View the full Future Ready report to explore the data, trends and workforce strategies shaping Indiana’s aerospace manufacturing sector and how your organization can be part of this momentum.