Chicago’s High-Tech Industry Employs 164,000
Chicago has 11,000 High-Tech Establishments—3rd Most in the Nation

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (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.

Chicago’s high-tech industry added 2,300 net jobs to its economy from 2005 to 2006, for a total of 164,000 in 2006, according to the most current state data available. Many of these jobs were in small and medium size businesses, as evidenced by the 11,000 high-tech establishments in Chicago, the third most in the nation. These jobs were high paying, with the average tech worker in Chicago earning $81,400 in 2006, or 66 percent more than the average private sector wage.

Chicago remains a critical location for computer systems design and related services, as it employed 41,400 people, fifth among all states. This industry also impacted the growth of the city by adding 2,900 jobs in 2006. Telecommunications services was also a critical tech sector in Chicago, employing 30,600.

"As the nation's 7th largest cybercity, the Chicagoland area represents a critical high-tech cluster," said Marty Singer, PCTEL’s Chairman and CEO and Chair of the AeA’s Midwest Council. "With educational institutions such as Northwestern, Illinois, IIT, and the University of Chicago, we have a skilled workforce pipeline for the tech industry. We need to do more, however, in attracting venture funds, encouraging more K-12 students to acquire backgrounds in math and science, and creating an attractive tax and health care environment for high-tech industries,” added Singer.

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 Chicago?

• 164,000 high-tech workers in 2006 (7th ranked cybercity)
   

• 2,300 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (18th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 43 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (47th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $81,400 (22nd ranked), or 66 percent more than Chicago’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $13.4 billion in 2006 (7th ranked cybercity)
   

• 11,000 high-tech establishments in 2006 (3rd ranked cybercity)

Chicago’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 5th in telecommunications services employment with 30,600 jobs
   

• 5th in computer systems design and related services employment with 41,400 jobs
   

• 7th in R&D and testing labs employment with 26,900 jobs

Notes:

Chicago = Illinois Counties: Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry, and Will. Indiana Counties: Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter. Wisconsin County: Kenosha.

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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