Tech Industry Remains Bright Spot in Georgia Economy

Georgia Breaks into the Top Ten Cyberstates by Tech Employment

Alpharetta, GA (March 31, 2009) - TechAmerica, formed by the merger of AeA and the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), today released its 12th annual Cyberstates report, which includes a first-ever supplement with a 3rd and 4th quarter breakdown of 2008 tech employment. Fourth quarter data show the tech industry's resilience compared to the U.S. economy as a whole, having sustained only a 0.6 percent drop in employment, or 38,000 jobs, in Q4 2008 when total private-sector employment declined by 1.3 percent.

The high-tech industry has added 382,900 jobs to the U.S. economy over the last four years. The industry added 77,000 net jobs in 2008, for a total of 5.9 million workers. This was on top of 79,600 added in 2007, 139,000 in 2006, and 87,400 in 2005.

The Cyberstates 2009 report - which details national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico - shows that Georgia's high-tech industry added 13,000 net jobs to its economy, totaling 177,500 in 2007, the most current year for which state data is available. This is the second net job gain since the bursting of the tech bubble in 2001. The average Georgia tech worker earned $79,700 in 2007, or 87 percent more than the state's average private sector wage of $42,700.

"The fact that Georgia's high-tech employment grew by 13,000 in 2007, on the eve of the current downturn, demonstrates the strength of the state's tech industry," said Jeff Katz, President & COO, Definition 6 and TechAmerica Southeast Chair. "The 2008 national data show that the U.S. tech sector has been stronger and more resilient than the overall economy, and could be poised to make a quicker rebound than other industry sectors. Federal stimulus spending, which includes significant technology infrastructure investments, has the potential to boost growth and job creation throughout the Southeast."

Georgia's tech industry job gains in 2007 were led by communications services (+9,300 jobs), computer systems design and related services (+2,900 jobs), and engineering services (+1,600 jobs). Software publishers and R&D and testing labs recorded both experienced job losses in 2007, 900 and 200, respectively.

Two other major TechAmerica cyber reports that analyze the U.S. high-tech industry: Cybercities 2009: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities, and Trade in the Cyberstates 2009: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade, are forthcoming.

Cyberstates 2009 may be purchased for $150. The quarterly supplement may be freely downloaded. Both reports may be accessed at: www.techamerica.org/cyberstates.

What Does High Tech Mean for Georgia?

• 177,500 high-tech workers in 2007 (10th ranked cyberstate)
• 13,100 jobs added between 2006 and 2007
• High-tech firms employed 52 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2007 ranked 18th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $79,700 (15th ranked), or 87 percent more than Georgia's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $14.2 billion in 2007, ranked 12th nationwide
• 12,700 high-tech establishments in 2007, ranked 8th nationwide

Georgia's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 5th in communications services employment with 73,500 jobs
• 6th in software publishers employment with 10,200 jobs
• 6th in computer training employment with 800 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2009

Data are for 2007 unless otherwise noted.

2007 state data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Published by TechAmerica - Where the Future Begins

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About TechAmerica
TechAmerica is the leading voice for the U.S. technology industry, the driving force behind productivity growth and jobs creation in the United States and the foundation of the global innovation economy. Representing approximately 1,500 member companies of all sizes from the public and commercial sectors of the economy, it is the industry's largest advocacy organization and is dedicated to helping members' top and bottom lines. It is also the technology industry's only grassroots-to-global advocacy network, with offices in state capitals around the United States, Washington, D.C., Europe (Brussels) and Asia (Beijing). TechAmerica was formed by the merger of AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA). Learn more at www.techamerica.org.

Contact:
Glen Whitley
Executive Director, TechAmerica Southeast
678.352.9469 or glen.whitley@techamerica.org

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

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