High-Tech Jobs Slowing But Still Growing
The U.S. gained 91,400 high-tech jobs last year, bringing the total to 5.9 million, according to a report by AeA, a high-tech trade association.
This compares to gains
of 139,000 in 2006 and 87,400 in
2005. “Tech jobs make critical contributions
to the U.S. economy and
pay extremely well,” says Christopher
Hansen, President and CEO
of AeA. “The average tech industry
wage is 87% higher than the average
private-sector wage.”
Software services added 82,600
jobs, up for the fourth year in a
row. Engineering and tech services
added 45,800 jobs, also up for the
fourth year in a row. On the downside,
high-tech manufacturing lost
29,800 jobs last year. Seven of the
nine tech-manufacturing sectors
lost jobs in 2007. Only the defenseelectronics
and electromedicalequipment
sectors showed gains.
Communications services continued
to shed jobs, albeit at a slower
pace, losing 7,200 compared to a
loss of 16,900 in 2006.
“The United States must prepare
for a vastly more competitive global
marketplace,” continues Hansen.
“The tech industry and the country
risk losing competitiveness
due to inadequate investment in
scientific research, a failure to improve
our education system, and a
failure to let the best and brightest
from around the world work in the
United States.”
The report, Cyberstates 2008: A
Complete State-by-State Overview
of the High-Technology Industry,
reviews the high-tech industry nationally
and state-by-state in terms
of employment, wages, payroll, and
establishments. For more information,
visit aeanet.org/cyberstates.