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U.S. High-Tech Industry Sheds 245,600 Jobs in 2009

Most Recent State Data Show 2008 Gains in Florida as Recession Unfolded

Contact: Anne Caliguiri Savoie, Director, Communications
703.284.5305 or anne.savoie@techamericafoundation.org

Josh James, Director, Research and Industry Analysis (research-based inquiries)
202.682.4422 or josh.james@techamericafoundation.org

Washington, DC (April 28, 2010) – TechAmerica Foundation today released its 13th annual Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2010: The Definitive State-by-State Analysis of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Nationally, the high-tech industry lost 245,600 jobs in 2009, for a total of 5.9 million workers. This recession–induced, four percent decline in tech employment is slightly lower than the five percent decline experienced by the private sector as a whole and follows four years of steady growth in tech industry employment.

Florida remained the 4th ranked cyberstate employing 292,300 workers in 2008, the most current year for which state data is available. High-tech employment in Florida increased slightly with 1,100 jobs gained between 2007 and 2008. This 0.4 percent gain in the midst of recession compared with an overall 4.1 percent loss in the state’s private sector workforce in 2008.

Florida is a leader in multiple high-tech sectors, ranking among the top three in space and defense systems manufacturing, photonics manufacturing, internet and telecommunications services, engineering services, and computer training.

“The technology sector remains critical to Florida’s economy,” said N. Louis Shipley, VP and GM, Citrix Xen Products Group and Citrix’ representative to TechAmerica. “Even in the midst of the 2008 recession, Florida added tech jobs, while the private sector as a whole was shedding them. Anecdotal evidence, combined with more recent 2009 national numbers showing the U.S. tech industry shedding jobs for the first time in over half a decade, point to the fact that these trends are not likely to continue in the short term. The larger question is how can state and local policymakers support the tech industry and help it lead the state into recovery.”

Two other major TechAmerica Foundation cyber reports that analyze the U.S. high-tech industry: Cybercities 2010: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation’s Top 60 Cities, and Trade in the Cyberstates 2010: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade, are forthcoming.

TechAmerica Foundation would like to thank Grant Thornton for the generous underwriting of this report. Cyberstates 2010 may be purchased for $150. The quarterly supplement may be freely downloaded. Both reports may be accessed at: www.techamericafoundation.org/cyberstates.

What Does High Tech Mean for Florida?

• 292,300 high-tech workers in 2008 (4th ranked cyberstate)
• 1,100 jobs gained between 2007 and 2008
• High-tech firms employed 44 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2008, ranked 26th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $68,200 (33rd ranked), or 72 percent more than Florida’s average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $19.9 billion in 2008, ranked 7th nationwide
• 24,500 high-tech establishments in 2008, ranked 3rd nationwide

Florida’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 1st in computer training employment with 1,600 jobs
• 2nd in space and defense systems manufacturing employment with 16,100 jobs
• 3rd in internet and telecommunications services employment with 86,500 jobs
• 3rd in engineering services employment with 57,700 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2010

Data are for 2008 unless otherwise noted.

2008 state data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Published by TechAmerica Foundation

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About TechAmerica Foundation
TechAmerica Foundation educates industry executives, policymakers, and opinion leaders on the promise of technological innovation to advance prosperity, security, and the general welfare. Launched in 1981, the foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-partisan affiliate of TechAmerica, the leading voice and resource for the U.S. technology industry. It disseminates award-winning industry, policy and market research covering topics such as U.S. competitiveness in a global economy, innovation in government, and other areas of national interest. The foundation also organizes conferences and seminars to explore pertinent issues with government and industry representatives and to share the foundation’s findings.