Tech Industry Remains Vital to Idaho Economy

Idaho Tech Industry Wages More Than Twice State's Private Sector Wage

Lynnwood, WA (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 Idaho lost tech jobs in 2007, the most current year for which state data are available. Idaho's tech concentration was the 11th highest nationwide with 62 of every 1,000 private sector workers in high tech. This is particularly significant considering that these high-tech workers' average wages are 103 percent higher than the average private sector wage.

"Despite a rough year, the high-tech industry remains vital to Idaho's economy. We have a large concentration of tech workers here in the state earning double the average private sector wage," said Terry Byington, Executive Director, TechAmerica Washington, representing Idaho companies. "The 2008 national data illustrate the U.S. tech sector's resilience relative to the overall economy, giving us hope that Idaho's high-tech industry will be able to weather the storm and regain its footing in 2009. This is dependent, in part, on public officials' ability to leverage federal stimulus spending - which includes significant technology infrastructure investments - to boost payrolls in Idaho and throughout the Mountain West."

Idaho's high-tech industry saw a net loss of 2,500 jobs, for an industry total of 33,900 tech workers in 2007. The largest job loss came from R&D and testing labs, which lost 2,000 jobs. Semiconductor manufacturing and engineering services both experienced a net loss of 300 jobs. Following them was computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing, which lost 200 jobs. Communications services sector saw a modest gain of 100 jobs in 2007.

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 Idaho?

• 33,900 high-tech workers in 2007 (35th ranked cyberstate)
• 2,500 jobs lost between 2006 and 2007
• High-tech firms employed 62 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2007, ranked 11th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $67,800 (29th ranked), or 103 percent more than Idaho's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $2.3 billion in 2007, ranked 35th nationwide
• 2,000 high-tech establishments in 2007, ranked 39th nationwide

Idaho's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 6th in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 11,800 jobs
• 9th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing with 3,500 jobs
• 25th in R&D Testing Labs employment with 6,000 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:
Terry Byington
Executive Director, TechAmerica Washington
425.775.6168 or terry.byington@techamerica.org

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

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