Information Technology

Where Innovation Moves at Speed

Engineering I.T. Progress

121%

GRP Growth

(2019-2024)

3,300+

IT Jobs in NKY’s Labor Shed

56

IT Companies in NKY

19.6%

Projected Employment Growth

(2024 – 2029)

View More Stats

Information Technology Thrives in NKY

Information technology in Northen Kentucky continues to expand, attracting companies that want a strong business environment and access to skilled talent. Between 2019 and 2024, local IT employment grew by 8% , with projected growth of 19.6% through 2029, the momentum shows no signs of slowing. NKY's tech industry continues to expand, more companies are choosing the region for its supportive business climate, reliable connectivity, and opportunities for collaboration and expansion. 

A major reason for this growth is the region's focus on professional development and technology innovation. Supported by local universities, technical colleges, and specialized training programs, there's a dominant tech workforce within the Northen Kentucky and surrounding region. Combined with reliable IT infrastructure and ongoing Northern Kentucky business development efforts, the region provides the backbone and talent companies need to grow and succeed. 

“We considered multiple states and many locations within those states while we were looking for a new headquarters location. We draw on talent locally and the community, culture, and vibe of Covington are what we wanted for our growing team.”

Ed Walton, CEO, STEP

Where Location Meets Innovation

#1 Best city for young entrepreneurs (Bizee, 2024)

"One of the most wired communities in the world" – fiber optics infrastructure descriptor

19.6% projected IT employment growth

One-day drive to 54% of the United States Population

55+ nonstop direct flights from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

The Top 8 Industries in Northern Kentucky

Information Technology in Northern Kentucky

Northern Kentucky is home to many information technology companies, with concentrations in key areas including software development, data processing, computer systems design and financial services.

Professional Development programmer working in programming website a software and coding technology, writing codes and data code, Programming with HTML, PHP and javascript

Data Processing

Enterprises and providers choose NKY for fiber-rich connectivity and proximity to customers across the eastern U.S.

DATA PROCESSING

Software

Talent, business costs, and access to partners enable software teams to thrive in NKY.

SOFTWARE

Electronics & Electrical Equipment Manufacturing

NKY offers an environment designed to help manufacturers hire, build, ship, and scale electronic components, wiring systems and industrial devices and controls.

ELECTRONICS & ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING

Education

Historically, information technology talent has been in short supply nationally, and regions like ours with educational institutions that can deliver a sustained pipeline of new workers with advanced skills have an advantage.

The Northern Kentucky University (NKU) College of Informatics (COI) is one of just a handful of such colleges nationally. Enrollment in COI has grown steadily and also boasts a top-ranked Cyber Defense Team. The college has added several new degrees, including an applied software engineering degree focused on software security and user experience design in addition to a BS and MS in cybersecurity. COI is also partnering with some of the region’s largest and most important companies, including Macy’s and Kroger. Computer informatics technology and computer science are the number one and number three enrolled majors at NKU, with 50% of IT graduates specializing in cybersecurity or network security.

Gateway Community & Technical College also offers training to build IT talent, enabling students to earn associate degrees across a spectrum of information technology fields, from cloud computing and information security to network administration and programming. The college also offers transfer pathways to NKU.

Throughout the Cincinnati region, Xavier University, Miami University, and the University of Cincinnati all add information technology talent to the pipeline. In a 2021 report from San Francisco-based CodeSignal, Miami was ranked No. 2 among U.S. colleges for coding assessments, ahead of Carnegie Mellon and Columbia University.

IT Resources

SparkHaus, Northern Kentucky’s new 51,000-square-foot entrepreneurial hub includes co-working, office, meeting and event spaces and is available to technology entrepreneurs and companies looking for a soft-landing in the Northern Kentucky region. SparkHaus is also home to many venture capital firms, including eGateway Capital. NKY-headquartered technology industry startups have raised more than $90 million in VC funding since 2020.

The Cincinnati Innovation District is anchored by the University of Cincinnati, a Carnegie Level 1 research institution, and The 1819 Innovation Hub, located in the district, is a 130,000-square-foot building that includes a 12,000-square-foot makerspace, and a full range of support for entrepreneurs, corporate partners and tech transfer. Fast Company and Inc. named the Cincinnati Innovation District the “Midwest’s #1 hub for entrepreneurs.”