Tech Industry Remains Vital to New Hampshire Economy

New Hampshire Ranks 9th by Employment Concentration

Woburn, MA (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 New Hampshire's high-tech industry added 200 jobs for an industry total of 38,500 in 2007, the most current year for which state data are available. New Hampshire is the 9th ranked cyberstate by employment concentration - 7.1 percent of all private sector workers are employed in the tech industry.

And these jobs are well paid. New Hampshire tech workers earn an average wage of $81,300 - 83 percent higher than the state's average private sector wage.

"Without a doubt, the technology industry powers high-wage employment in New Hampshire," said Anne Doherty Johnson, Executive Director, TechAmerica New England. "The 2008 national data show that America's tech sector weathered the storm remarkably well in 2008, and will likely be in a good position to lead economic recovery in New Hampshire and throughout the country. If New Hampshire can tap into the federal stimulus package to make key technology infrastructure investments, we may be able to expedite the recovery process in New England, and TechAmerica is already working with its member tech companies to do just that."

"Technology and innovation continue to pave the way for the growth and overall health of the New Hampshire economy," said New Hampshire Division of Economic Development Interim Director Roy Duddy. "The Granite State is a place where entrepreneurs thrive and create products that are changing the way that people around the world live their lives. We're very proud of our technology sector and are consistently looking for ways to support its continued vitality."

New Hampshire saw sector growth in computer systems design and related services (+ 500 jobs), measuring and control instruments manufacturing (+300 jobs), and engineering services (+ 100 jobs). New Hampshire ranked 4th nationwide in photonics manufacturing, with 1,700 total workers in 2006. The state lost tech jobs in electronic components manufacturing (-300 jobs) and communications services (-200 jobs).

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 New Hampshire?

• 38,500 high-tech workers in 2007 (34th ranked cyberstate)
• 200 jobs added between 2006 and 2007
• High-tech firms employed 71 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2007, ranked 9th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $81,300 (13th ranked), or 83 percent more than New Hampshire's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $3.1 billion in 2007, ranked 29th nationwide
• 2,800 high-tech establishments in 2007, ranked 33rd nationwide

New Hampshire's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 4th in photonics manufacturing employment with 1,700 jobs
• 9th in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 8,200 jobs
• 13th in electronic components manufacturing employment with 5,400 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:
Anne Doherty Johnson
Executive Director, TechAmerica New England
781.938.1925 or anne.doherty.johson@techamerica.org

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

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