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INDUSTRIES IN FOCUS
© Courtesy of IBM © Courtesy of SUNY Westchester Community College
Technology:
Major Investments to Spur Growth in the Local Tech Economy
BY RITA ROSS
T hanks largely to plans by tech giants IBM and Micron to invest billions in New York State, the
region’s technology employment outlook is poised to take a quantum leap.
Even before the two companies’ proposals were unveiled, tech had consistently ranked among the top career opportunities in Westchester and the Hudson Valley. And it’s no surprise, since technology encompasses a vast variety of skill sets and holds such a prominent place in daily and business life. Tech is, in fact, such a wide-ranging field that it can be challenging to even classify. A 2023 report by the Office of the New York State Comptroller (OSC) notes that unlike many other sectors of employment, “there is no official definition of the technology sector.“
Tech generally includes businesses and workers that “research, design, manufacture, or maintain technologies related to computer systems, software, computer
and communication equipment, the internet, and biotechnology,” according to the OSC.
“A lot of technology job titles blend into other sectors and might not be easily identified,” says Jason Chapin,
director of workforce development for the Westchester County Association (WCA), a regional economic development and business advocacy organization based in White Plains.
“But technology jobs are clearly in great demand. If you have computer training, there is employment in every sector,” he adds, noting that a recent online search resulted in more
than 500 tech-related positions open in Westchester. Jobs in information technology or IT — they generally
include hardware and software services, as well as supporting equipment and networks that manage and deliver information through voice, data, and video — are among the region’s tech categories on the rise.
IT jobs have grown by nearly 7% in the past five years, according to the 2022 annual report by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council.
The council’s report also predicts the tech ecosystem’s momentum is likely to continue; more than 25% of employers surveyed last year said they expect their businesses to expand use of digital automation. That translates to a growing number of available tech jobs, with many local businesses unable to find enough workers.
“The fundamental problem that businesses in our region continue to face — regardless of the industry sector, including technology — is talent cultivation and retention. That’s their number one challenge,” says Michael Romita, the WCA’s president and CEO.
Big Boosts for Tech
A trio of recently announced major funding, building, and expansion projects in the state will play key roles in moving the region’s tech sector to the next level.
The bipartisan $280 billion CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, a federal package passed by Congress in July 2022, provides roughly $53 billion to augment U.S. research and
38 2023 SKILLS What’s Hot. What’s Next. What’s Needed.