January 05, 2026
The Lehigh Valley is booming. Since 2020, the region has added more than 21,000 residents, placing Lehigh and Northampton counties in the top 8% nationwide for growth.
What's driving it? Young professionals.
According to the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, nearly 9,000 adults aged 18 to 34 have relocated to the Lehigh Valley, drawn by the quality of life, career opportunities and the area's growing reputation for innovation.
While this population boom is beneficial for business expansion, it also increases the need for reliable and scalable technology systems that can support organizational growth.
That's where ET&T comes in. As a multi-generational, family-owned IT partner with deep roots in the Lehigh Valley, we understand the diverse perspectives of the Lehigh Valley's evolving workforce, from digital-native Gen Z'ers to those who remember when computers filled an entire room. Our leadership team reflects these generational changes and can support the ongoing evolution required to keep your business secure, connected and competitive.
"Before returning to the Lehigh Valley to continue the family legacy at ET&T, I experienced fast-paced, innovative and tech-forward corporate environments in the Fortune 100. The technology we used at these companies was table stakes for attracting and retaining world-class talent," said ET&T's Director of Customer Success Merjan Bubernack. "At ET&T, I want to help connect these technologies with our clients here in the Lehigh Valley, so that this region can continue to be competitive on the national talent market.
To that end, reliable IT infrastructure isn't just about keeping the lights on; it's about creating an environment that attracts and retains new talent. Younger adults entering the workforce are tech-savvy. They expect a seamless technology experience, remote access and efficient collaboration tools. If your environment is riddled with slow computers, repeated logins, broken workflows and inconsistent processes, the younger workforce will perceive this as a reflection of your business and assume that your company is outdated.
Younger adults care about cybersecurity, having grown up with data breaches being a common occurrence. Although security is a standard business requirement, all generations want it to be invisible, not burdensome. Younger workers will not tolerate cumbersome processes, including multiple sign-ins, multifactor authentication, legacy virtual private networks (VPN) and restrictive workflows that slow down their workday. They will, however, respond well to single sign-ons (SSO), conditional access, modern endpoint security and clear, lightweight policies.
Here's the reality: younger employees are already using AI at work, whether or not your company has a formal policy. Gen Z is the first generation that grew up with AI tools like ChatGPT, and they're using them to work faster and smarter. Businesses can't stop employees from using AI, but they can implement safeguards to ensure that sensitive data isn't leaked and employees are productive.
AI isn't replacing jobs; it's enabling people to do more with less effort. The companies that embrace this reality responsibly will have a competitive advantage in attracting young talent.
In addition to the expectations of younger adults, expanding teams create new IT challenges. As your business grows, so does your workforce. This means more devices, more data and more demand on your network. It's imperative for organizations to employ scalable IT solutions that can progress in tandem with the business, without adding unnecessary complexity.
Businesses that fail to meet these expectations risk losing top talent to more modern, flexible workplaces. ET&T helps businesses modernize by integrating communication systems, cloud-based tools and cybersecurity measures that align with the expectations of today's workforce.
The bottom line: Younger employees aren't asking for more. They're asking for modern. A workplace built on reliable, well-structured technology is not only more secure, but it's also more efficient, creating a place where people want to work.\
Ready to see where your IT stands? We'd love to talk. Schedule Your Free IT Clarity Call.
