More than 517,000 people (and thousands of businesses) contribute to Indy’s economy. But have you ever wondered about the Circle City’s heaviest hitters?
Consider this Indy Business 101 — your guide to our region’s seven key industries and three major employers.
Note: When we say Indy metro area, that refers to Marion County.
The key industries
These are the seven key industries that represent the Indy metro area’s economy, according to the 2024 numbers released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 246,100 employees
Indiana is known as the crossroads of America, so naturally, Indy is closely tied to transportation and distribution activities. Air transportation and storage + fulfillment services are booming, with major employers including Express Scripts, Amazon, and FedEx.
Education and Health Services | 191,000 employees
The education and health services sector provides Indianapolis residents with enormous economic opportunities. On average, workers in the life sciences industry in Indy earned more than twice the regional average. Major employers include Eli Lilly & Co., Anthem, Roche Diagnostics, and Corteva. Fun fact: IU Health has the largest network of physicians in the state, making a big financial impact on our local economy.
Professional and Business Services | 184,400 employees
When you think of this industry, you may also think of the tallest building in the Indy skyline. Indianapolis has a strong niche in marketing technology, thanks to major employers like Salesforce, as well as business sectors including legal services, accounting, engineering, and management consulting. Key players in Indianapolis are Salesforce, Cummins, and Simon Property Group.
Manufacturing | 98,100 employees
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Indiana has one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing jobs in the nation (2.04 times the national average). Allison Transmission, Nice Pak, and Red Gold are among the leading manufacturing businesses that operate in the Indy area.
Leisure and Hospitality | 109,800 employees
With 2024’s tourism boom extending well into 2025, it should be no surprise that Indy’s hospitality sector is thriving. Big employers include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the Indiana Convention Center, and Marriott Hotels.
Agribusiness | 16,000 employees
Indiana is a farming state, so it’s no shock that agribusiness is a significant economic driver of the state’s economy. Statewide, this industry employs 75,000+ individuals, not including primary production workers (farming). Indy is home to some major players such as Elanco, Beck’s Hybrids, and AgReliant Genetics.
Sports | 16,000 employees
We love our sports in Indiana. From the NCAA headquarters to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, sports has been a catalyst for development + positive change throughout the Indianapolis area. The city has a rich history of hosting some of the biggest sporting events, so Indy knows a thing or two about competition.
The major players
Now that we’ve established the major industries, we bet you’re curious for specific names. Whether you’re job hunting (or just “casually prospecting”), here are three major employers.
💊 Eli Lilly
43,000 employees | Pharmaceutical | Search jobs
Ranked 455 on the Fortune 500 list, the pharmaceutical company was born in Indianapolis on May 10, 1876 and employs 12,000+ people in Indy alone. Today, Lilly is best known for clinical depression drugs like Prozac and Cymbalta, and its products are sold in ~125 countries.
⚙️ Cummins
75,500 employees | Manufacturing | Search jobs
Although this company is based in Columbus, it also has a headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. The multinational corporation designs, manufactures, and distributes engines, filtration, and power generation products. It’s been on Ethisphere World’s Most Ethical Companies list for 14 consecutive years + ranked No. 24 on Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies last year.
💻 Salesforce
72,682 employees | Tech | Search jobs
Although the company wasn’t born in Indianapolis, our city has become one of the tech company’s largest outposts with more than 2,300 employees alone, according to Forbes. Salesforce is the world’s No. 1 customer relationship management platform that helps businesses with marketing, sales, commerce, service, and IT teams work together from anywhere.
