Arizona Gains 5,200 Tech Jobs, Totaling 116,800
Arizona Is the 4th Largest Cyberstate by Semiconductor Employment

Scottsdale, AZ (April 2, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its 11th annual Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2008: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Arizona's high-tech industry added 5,200 net jobs to its economy, totaling 116,800 in 2006, the most current state data available. These jobs also are high paying, with the average tech worker in Arizona earning $74,200 in 2006 or 88 percent more than the average private sector wage.

Arizona remains a critical location for the semiconductor industry with 23,900 jobs in this industry in 2006, making it the 4th ranked state nationwide in this industry. High-tech services sectors also contributed to the net gain in jobs, led by engineering services which added 2,400 jobs and computer systems design and related services which added 1,900 jobs.

Venture capital investments in Arizona totaled $201 million in 2007, ranking 18th nationwide.

“Arizona’s high-tech industry has now seen three straight years of job growth,” said Brenda McCaffrey, President of White Mountain Labs, a Division of EAG, LLC. “This is a boon to the Grand Canyon State because tech industry jobs pay wages that are 88 percent higher than the state’s average private sector wage. Our semiconductor manufacturing industry is particularly strong and growing. To maintain this growth, state and local leaders need to push hard for improvements in our K-12 education system to focus more on the critical subjects of math and science to prepare our kids for the knowledge-driven careers of the future.”

Nationally, Cyberstates 2008 shows that the high-tech industry added jobs for the third consecutive year. Tech industry employment totaled 5.9 million, after adding 91,400 jobs in
2007. This is on top of job gains of 139,000 in 2006 and 87,400 in 2005.

This 11th edition of Cyberstates provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry nationally and state-by-state in terms of high-tech employment, wages, payroll, and establishments. Cyberstates also offers data on venture capital investments and R&D expenditures.

Two other major AeA cyber reports are forthcoming that analyze the U.S. high-tech industry: Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation’s Top 60 Cities, and Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade.

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

What Does High Tech Mean for Arizona?

• 116,800 high-tech workers in 2006 (18th ranked cyberstate)
   

• 5,200 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006
   

• High-tech firms employed 52 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006, ranked 17th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $74,200 (19th ranked), or 88 percent more than Arizona's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $8.7 billion in 2006, ranked 18th nationwide
   

• 5,900 high-tech establishments in 2006, ranked 18th nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $201 million in 2007, down 24 percent from $263 million in 2006, ranked 18th nationwide
   

• R&D expenditures of $3.8 billion in 2004, ranked 21st nationwide

Arizona’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 4th in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 23,900 jobs
   

• 4th in defense electronics manufacturing employment with 9,500 jobs
   

• 14th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 2,600 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2008

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

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

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 04/02/08.            
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