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

Most Recent State Data Show 2008 Gains in Washington 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 U.S. High-Tech 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.

For the fifth year in a row, Washington’s high-tech industry added jobs, up 9,300 for a total of 186,800 in 2008, the most current year for which state data are available.  This five percent gain in the midst of recession compared with a one percent gain in the state’s private sector workforce in 2008.

The state’s largest sector remains software publishers, which grew by 3,200 net jobs for a total of 50,700 jobs. Washington continued to rank first in the country in this sector ahead of California.  Computer systems design and related services saw the largest job increase in 2008, adding 3,300 net jobs to Washington’s economy.  Other sectors that experienced significant growth in 2008 included engineering services (+2,100 jobs) and R&D and testing labs (+500 jobs).

“This report highlights the important role the technology sector continues to play in the creation of high-paying jobs in Washington and for the economy as a whole,” said Susan Sigl, president and CEO of the Washington Technology Industry Association. “While Washington has not been immune to the impact of the recession, particularly in 2009, consistent year-over-year growth in technology employment prior to the downturn put us in a stronger position to weather the storm and tees us up to be in the first wave of the 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 Washington?

• 186,800 high-tech workers in 2008 (10th ranked cyberstate)
• 9,300 jobs added between 2007 and 2008, ranked 3rd nationwide
• High-tech firms employed 77 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2008, ranked 6th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $97,900 (3rd ranked), or 113 percent more than Washington’s average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $18.3 billion in 2008, ranked 8th nationwide
• 8,400 high-tech establishments in 2008, ranked 16th nationwide

Washington’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 1st in software publishers employment with 50,700 jobs
• 7th in electromedical equipment manufacturing with 3,600 jobs
• 13th in R&D and testing labs employment with 20,600 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.