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Operating costs are low in Northeast Indiana and support a range of businesses, from homegrown entrepreneurs like Sweetwater Sound and Vera Bradley to the region’s largest automotive manufacturer, General Motors.
With one of the nation’s top tax climates and best regulatory environments, Northeast Indiana has worked together to create a setting for success in Fort Wayne and surrounding counties. Paired with an affordable labor force of both skilled and educated workers, as well as below-average operating costs, Northeast Indiana is a top location for those looking to relocate or expand their business.
In 2012, Indiana became the first state in more than a decade to pass right-to-work legislation. This allows for greater freedom for businesses by increasing the economic opportunities in an increasingly globalized, competitive marketplace.
Northeast Indiana combines an innovative, forward-thinking approach with a Midwestern work ethic to create a talent formula that is unparalleled anywhere in the U.S.
Creating an environment that’s good for business is something Indiana takes seriously. Due to legislation in 2011, Indiana’s corporate income tax rate fell by 2 percent. This was the continuation of a scheduled multiyear reduction, which will ultimately see the corporate income tax rate reduced to 4.9 percent by 2022, making Indiana’s the second-lowest corporate tax rate of any state levying the tax.
Northeast Indiana’s geographic position and multimodal connection to major markets make it a principal “hub to the Midwest.” Northeast Indiana’s central location makes Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit and Indianapolis reachable within a three-hour drive. Northeast Indiana has an excess water supply and a highly reliable business infrastructure system from utilities to roads to ports.
The money saved on operating costs, including wages, is often a powerful deciding factor for businesses looking to call Northeast Indiana home.
| Occupation | 2020 Jobs | 2020 Average Hourly Earnings | Region/US |
| Production Occupations | 66,986 | $19.19 | 99.3% |
| Office and Administrative Support Occupations | 44,513 | $18.13 | 91.9% |
| Sales and Related Occupations | 36,869 | $19.88 | 90.4% |
| Transportation and Material Moving | 36,568 | $16.71 | 89.1% |
| Food Preparation and Serving Related | 31,869 | $11.46 | 89.3% |
| Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations | 21,358 | $36.97 | 90.5% |
| Management Occupations | 19,247 | $44.11 | 80.3% |
| Installation, Maintenance, and Repair Occupations | 18,899 | $22.41 | 93.6% |
| Construction and Extraction Occupations | 18,403 | $22.16 | 90.4% |
| Educational Instruction and Library Occupations | 18,087 | $22.19 | 80.4% |
| Healthcare Support Occupations | 14,415 | $14.24 | 94.9% |
| Business and Financial Operations Occupations | 14,206 | $32.08 | 83.2% |
| Building and Grounds Cleaning and Maintenance Occupations | 12,210 | $13.24 | 86.5% |
| Personal Care and Service Occupations | 9,384 | $12.37 | 82.2% |
| Community and Social Service Occupations | 7,444 | $21.30 | 86.8% |
| Architecture and Engineering Occupations | 7,350 | $35.76 | 83.4% |
| Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations | 5,902 | $23.03 | 75.4% |
| Computer and Mathematical Occupations | 5,888 | $34.83 | 77.9% |
| Protective Service Occupations | 5,635 | $20.83 | 86.5% |
| Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Occupations | 2,449 | $14.25 | 92.5% |
| Legal Occupations | 1,710 | $52.73 | 96.7% |
| Life, Physical, and Social Science Occupations | 1,572 | $33.50 | 87.9% |
Source: Emsi 2020.4; QCEW, non-QCEW and Self-employed (2021 Q4 Data will be released on 10/29/2021)
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