D.C.’s Tech Industry Adds 600 Jobs
D.C. Is 1st in R&D Per Capita and 4th Ranked Cyberstate by Concentration of Tech Workers

The District of Columbia's tech industry added 600 net jobs – a two percent rise – for a tech industry total of 35,600 tech jobs in 2006, the most recent year state data are available. The District’s largest and fastest growing tech sector is computer systems design and related services which added 700 jobs – a four percent rise – for a total of 16,200 tech workers.

Venture capital investments in the District totaled $133 million in 2007, up 58 percent from $84 million in 2006, 23rd ranked nationwide.

“The District of Columbia’s tech industry reaps enormous benefits from its proximity to the federal government, both in terms of selling technology products and services to the feds and through innovative R&D performed in partnership with our national research agencies,” said Matthew Kazmierczak, Vice President of Research and Industry Analysis, AeA. "Our nation’s capital offers access to thousands of highly skilled and educated workers. It ranks first in the country in R&D expenditures per capita and 4th in concentration of technology workers as a percentage of the private sector workforce.”

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 D.C.?

• 35,600 high-tech workers in 2006 (36th ranked cyberstate)
   
• 600 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006
   
• High-tech firms employed 81 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006, ranked 4th nationwide
   
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $85,700 (7th ranked), or 31 percent more than D.C.'s average private sector wage
   
• A high-tech payroll of $3.0 billion in 2006, ranked 29th nationwide
   
• 1,900 high-tech establishments in 2006, ranked 38th nationwide
   
• Venture capital investments of $133 million in 2007, up 58 percent from $84 million in 2006, ranked 23rd nationwide
   
• R&D expenditures of $2.6 billion in 2004, ranked 27th nationwide

D.C.’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 19th in R&D and testing labs employment with 10,200 jobs
   
• 22nd in computer systems design and related services employment with 16,200 jobs
   
• 31st in Internet services employment with 2,700 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)

- # # # -

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 04/01/08.   
Copyright © 2008 American Electronics Association.   All rights reserved.