Minneapolis-St. Paul’s Tech Employment Totals 98,100
Minneapolis-St. Paul Ranks 1st in the Nation in Electromedical Equipment Manufacturing Employment

Minneapolis, MN (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.

Minneapolis-St. Paul’s high-tech industry employment totaled 98,100 in 2006, according to the most current metropolitan data available. These jobs also pay well, with the average tech worker earning $75,600 in 2006 or 61 percent more than the average private sector wage.

Minneapolis-St. Paul remains a critical location for various sector jobs. Electromedical equipment ranked first nationally with 12,100 jobs, measuring and control instruments manufacturing was ranked third nationally with 11,100 jobs, and computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing ranked fifth nationally with 6,400 jobs.

“The Twin Cities is a center of high tech in the nation,” said Wendell Maddox, president and CEO of ION Corporation and chair of the Minnesota High Tech Association board of directors. “We benefit from strong K-12 and higher education systems. But in order for us to continue growing, we need to encourage students to continue pursuing science and engineering majors, and we must keep these students in the area to continue the growth of high-tech industries across Minnesota."

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 Minneapolis-St. Paul?

• 98,100 high-tech workers in 2006 (15th ranked cybercity)
   

• 300 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (44th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 65 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (26th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $75,600 (28th ranked), or 61 percent more than Minneapolis-St. Paul’s average private sector wage.
   

• A high-tech payroll of $7.4 billion in 2006 (17th ranked cybercity)
   

• 5,000 high-tech establishments in 2006 (14th ranked cybercity)

Minneapolis-St. Paul’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 1st in electromedical equipment manufacturing employment with 12,100 jobs
   

• 3rd in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 11,100 jobs
   

• 13th in computer systems design and related services employment with 21,900 jobs

Notes:

Minneapolis-St. Paul = Minnesota Counties: Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington, and Wright; Wisconsin Counties: Pierce and St. Croix

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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