Arizona Gains 1,300 Tech Jobs

Last week the AeA released its ninth annual Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, exports, and other key economic factors. That report provided a state-by-state overview of high-tech industry.

The news for Arizona was good. According to the report, Arizona's economy is doing well, thanks to the high-tech and semiconductor industry sectors. The report includes the following details specifically about Arizona:

What Does High Tech Mean for Arizona?

• 110,800 high-tech workers (18th ranked)
• 1,300 jobs gained between 2003 and 2004
• High-tech firms employed 56 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, ranked 16th nationwide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $66,100 (22nd ranked), or 83 percent more than Arizona's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $7.3 billion in 2004, ranked 18th nationwide
• 5,800 high-tech establishments in 2004, ranked 18th nationwide
• High-tech exports totaled $7.0 billion in 2005 (6th ranked nationwide), up 11 percent
• High-tech exports represented 47 percent of Arizona’s exports
• Venture capital investments of $148 million in 2005, up 81 percent from $82 million in 2004
• R&D expenditures of $3.6 billion in 2003, ranked 22nd nationwide

Arizona’s National Industry Sector Rankings

• 4th in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 22,500 jobs
• 4th in defense electronics manufacturing employment with 8,800 jobs
• 17th in engineering services employment with 15,200 jobs

The AeA is the nation’s largest trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry. Copies of the full Cyberstates 2006 report can be purchased directly from them.

_{Source: AeA press release dated 4-19-06.}