High-Tech Employment Shows Promise

U.S. high-tech employment increased 1 percent in 2005, bringing the nationwide total to 5.6 million, with the greatest gains in the electronic manufacturing, software, and engineering and tech services segments, according to the Cyberstates 2006 report released April 18 by the American Electronics Association, a nationwide trade association representing the technology industry.

High-tech employment boasted 61,000 new jobs in 2005, which is promising news after losing 44,700 jobs in 2004 and 333,000 in 2003.

“While we are encouraged by the positive employment trend, the technology industry is focused on the long-term health of the industry, the economy and our nation,” said AeA’s president and CEO, William T. Archey, in a statement.

“Tech industry employment only grew by 1 percent last year compared to 2 percent for the U.S. private sector as a whole. To promote the creation of high-paying technology jobs for the future, we need to address the competitiveness issues facing our country, today.”

With 909,900 jobs, California continues to lead the U.S. in high-tech employment. Texas has less than half as many, coming in second with 435,000 tech jobs. New York, Florida and Virginia filled out the top five spots.

Click here to read about how CEOs are wooing tech workers with perks.

The largest gains in tech industry jobs took place in Puerto Rico (1,900), New Hampshire (2,400), Maryland (2,800) and Florida (6,700).

Virginia, with 9,100, gained the largest number of jobs in 2004.

Of the four broad segments covered in the report, only communications services suffered big job losses, with 42,600 fewer jobs than last year.

Read the full story on eWEEK.com: High-Tech Employment Shows Promise