Atlanta’s Tech Employment Totals 126,700
Atlanta Ranks 10th Nationwide by High-Tech Employment in 2006

Alpharetta, GA (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. This detailed report tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration, and wage differential at the metropolitan level.

The high-tech industry in Atlanta employed 126,700 people in 2006, the most current metropolitan data available, representing an increase of 2,300 jobs from the previous year, or two percent. As a result, Atlanta ranked 10th nationwide by employment in this industry. These jobs are also well paid, with the average tech industry worker in Atlanta earning $82,400 in 2006 or 77 percent more than the average private sector wage of $46,500 in the metropolitan area. This wage differential is particularly important in a region, where 6.4 percent of the workforce is in the high-tech industry.

With 35,400 people employed in telecommunication services, Atlanta ranked 3rd nationwide in this sector. Similarly, it ranked 3rd by software publishers employment with 10,400 jobs and 8th in computer systems design and related services employment with 33,000 jobs. It is also ranked 8th in engineering services employment with 19,200 jobs.

“Since the burst of the dot-com bubble in 2001, this has been Atlanta’s first year of job growth,” said Glen Whitley, Executive Director, AeA Southeast Council. “This growth is driven primarily by increases in jobs in Internet services, computer systems design and related services, and engineering services. We need to do all that we can to keep and grow these types of jobs because they pay 77 percent more than other jobs. One critical factor is education. Our K-12 systems must prepare our children for a 21st Century workforce, which is grounded in strong math and science skills.”

Cybercities 2008 shows that the top five cybercities by high-tech employment in 2006 were the New York Metro Area, Washington, DC, San Jose/Silicon Valley, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The nation’s highest tech industry concentration was in San Jose/Silicon Valley, where more than one in four private sector workers were employed by the tech industry. Seattle saw the largest tech industry employment growth, adding 7,800 jobs in 2006.

Later this summer, AeA will release Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade. That report will look at the most recent data on high-tech exports from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

AeA members can purchase Cybercities 2008 for $125; non-members for $250.  Visit www.aeanet.org/cybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Atlanta?

• 126,700 high-tech workers in 2006 (10th ranked cybercity)
   

• 2,300 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (16th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 64 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (27th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $82,400 (19th ranked), or 77 percent more than Atlanta’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $10.4 billion in 2006 (10th ranked cybercity)
   

• 7,900 high-tech establishments in 2006 (6th ranked cybercity)

Atlanta’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 3rd in telecommunications services employment with 35,400 jobs
   
• 8th in computer systems design and related services employment with 33,000 jobs
   
• 8th in engineering services employment with 19,200 jobs

Notes:

Atlanta = Georgia Counties: Barrow, Bartow, Butts, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dawson, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Haralson, Heard, Henry, Jasper, Lamar, Meriwether, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Pike, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton.

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Source: Cybercities 2008

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

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About AeA

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association, representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aeanet.org.   

This page was last updated on 06/20/08.            
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