Tech Industry Remains Vital to Oregon Economy

Oregon's Semiconductor Sector Is 3rd Largest in the Nation with 25,900 Jobs

Lake Oswego, OR (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 Oregon's high-tech industry added 800 net jobs, a one percent increase, for a total of 86,800 in 2007, the most recent year for which state data are available.

"Oregon's tech sector experienced its fourth consecutive year of growth in 2007," said Jennifer Bosze, Executive Director, TechAmerica Oregon, "a trend that gives us confidence in the resilience of our high-tech industry. We will be depending on it to spearhead the recovery once the worst of the economic downturn has passed. Federal stimulus spending, which includes a significant focus on technology infrastructure investments, could help accelerate economic recovery here in Oregon and throughout the Pacific Northwest."

The largest increase in tech jobs occurred in Oregon's software publishers sector which added 1,000 net jobs in 2007, the 7th ranked cyberstate in that sector. The state also saw sector growth in engineering services (+500 jobs), communications services (+300 jobs), and computer systems design and related services (+200 jobs). High-tech manufacturing lost about 1,000 jobs in 2007, concentrated in the semiconductor manufacturing sector.

Two other major TechAmerica cyber reports are forthcoming 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.

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 Oregon?

• 86,800 high-tech workers in 2007 (20th ranked cyberstate)
• 800 jobs gained between 2006 and 2007
• High-tech firms employed 60 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2007, ranked 13th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $79,900 (14th ranked), or 104 percent more than Oregon's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $6.9 billion in 2007, ranked 19th nationwide
• 4,900 high-tech establishments in 2007, ranked 22nd nationwide

Oregon's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 3rd in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 25,900 jobs
• 7th in software publishers employment with 9,200 jobs
• 10th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 3,500 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

- # # # -

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:
Jennifer Bosze
Executive Director, TechAmerica Oregon
503.624.6050 or josh.james@techamerica.org

Featured Events

Access to Investors
Present your company to potential investors at TechAmerica's Growth Cap Financial Conference from May 12-14 in San Francisco...
Read Full Article

Public Sector
Register to attend TechAmerica's 2010 Beyond the Beltway: State & Local Government IT Market Watch in Virginia on March 22...
Read Full Article

Advertisement

...
Read Full Article