Orlando, FL, June 26, 2002—Florida’s high-technology industry added only 3,600 tech jobs in 2001, with tech employment reaching 238,700. This is a dramatic change from the previous year, when technology employment in Florida grew by 17,000 jobs, according to Cyberstates 2002: A State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, a new analytical report released today by AeA.

Cyberstates 2002 also shows that venture capital investments in Florida plummeted by 69 percent between 2000 and 2001, dropping from $2.3 billion to $727 million.

Electronics exports from Florida declined slightly in 2001, falling one percent to $9.5 billion from $9.4 billion in 2000. Florida’s high-tech industry exports represented 35 percent of total exports from the state in 2001.

"Despite this slow growth rate, the technology industry continues to play an important role in Florida's economy. We employ 239,000 people and are the fifth largest high-tech state by employment," said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA’s Florida Council. "Florida has weathered this economic slowdown better than most other states. We did add jobs and tech exports fell by only one percent, compared with the national decline of 15 percent."

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 one percent increase illustrates the effect of the technology slowdown in 2001, compared to nine percent growth in 2000.

Cyberstates 2002 is the sixth edition of AeA’s Cyberstates reports. The study includes nine chapters 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 are also examined. The report includes state rankings for each indicator. Cyberstates 2002 is based on the most current U.S. government data available.

What Does High Tech Mean for Florida?

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $54,200 (26^th ranked), or 81% more than the average private sector wage in 2000

• An drop of $76 million in high-tech exports between 2000 and 2001

• Venture capital investments declined by 69% between 2000 and 2001, dropping by $1.6 billion

• Home Internet access totaled 53%, ranked 18^th nationwide

Source: Cyberstates 2002
Data are for 2001 unless otherwise noted.
2000 data are the most current for wages, payroll, establishments, and industry segment jobs.

Published by the AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.AeAnet.org)