DALLAS — June 26, 2002 — According to Cyberstates 2002: A State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, a new analytical report released today by AeA, Arkansas’ high-technology industry added 70 jobs in 2001, growing by less than 1 percent. The state growth rate was less than the national growth rate of 1 percent. Total tech employment for the state reached 22,867. This slight growth was a dramatic change from the previous year, during which tech employment in Arkansas grew by 2,100 jobs.

Cyberstates 2002 also shows the tech slowdown had an impact on electronics exports and venture capital investments. Tech exports in Arkansas decreased in 2001, dropping from $108 million to $102 million, and venture capital investments in Arkansas decreased by 31 percent, dropping from $10.3 million to $7.1 million between 2000 and 2001.

"The fact that Arkansas saw an increase in its tech industry employment is a positive step in the right direction," said Melissa Hendrick, AeA Texas Council executive director. "However, the digital divide still exists in Arkansas, and there are many opportunities for the state to improve its support for the technology industry."

Nationally, Cyberstates 2002 shows that high-tech industry employment grew slightly in 2001, reaching 5.6 million, compared to 5.5 million in 2000. This 1 percent increase illustrates the effect of the technology slowdown in 2001, compared to 9 percent growth in 2000.

Cyberstates 2002 is the sixth edition of AeA’s Cyberstates reports. The study includes information detailing national and state trends in employment, wages and exports. Venture capital investments, research and development (R&D) expenditures and computer and Internet home use also are examined. The report includes state rankings for each indicator. Cyberstates 2002 is based on the most current U.S. government data. Cyberstates 2002 is part of AeA’s cyber report series, which includes Cybernation 2.0, CyberEducation 2002, and Cybercities.

The following are statistics from Cyberstates 2002 (data are for 2001 unless otherwise noted):
What High Tech Means for Arkansas –

• 22,867 high-tech workers (38^th ranked cyberstate)

• 4,000 jobs added between 1995 and 2001, ranked 41^st nationwide

• Gained 70 tech jobs in 2001, compared with tech job growth of 2,100 in 2000

• High-tech firms employ 24 of every 1,000 private sector workers, ranked 45^th nationwide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $44,500 (28^th ranked), or 71 percent more than the average private sector wage in 2000

• A high-tech payroll of $1 billion in 2000, ranked 39^th nationwide

• 1,400 high-tech establishments in 2000, ranked 35^th nationwide

• High-tech exports totaled $102 million, ranked 46^th nationwide

• High-tech exports represented 4 percent of Arkansas’s exports

• A decrease of $5 million in high-tech exports between 2000 and 2001

• Venture capital investments of $7 million, ranked 44^th nationwide

• Venture capital investments declined by 31 percent between 2000 and 2001, dropping by $3.2 million

• R&D expenditures of $380 million in 1999, ranked 44^th nationwide

• Home computer penetration reached 48 percent, ranked 48^th nationwide

• Home Internet access totaled 38 percent, ranked 49^th nationwide

• 15^th in consumer electronics manufacturing employment with 1,210 jobs

• 26^th in defense electronics manufacturing employment with 370 jobs

• 31^st in industrial electronics manufacturing employment with 1,570 jobs

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Advancing the business of technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. AeA has more than 3,500 member companies that span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. With 18 regional U.S. councils and offices in Brussels and Beijing, AeA offers a unique global policy grassroots capability and a wide portfolio of valuable business services and products for the high-tech industry. AeA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. technology community since 1943.

This page was last updated on 06/24/02.