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, Louisiana’s high-technology industry added 800 jobs in 2001, growing by 3 percent. The state growth rate was higher than the national growth rate of 1 percent. Total tech employment for the state reached 28,738. This slight growth was a dramatic change from the previous year, during which tech employment grew by 3,800 jobs.

Cyberstates 2002 also shows the tech slowdown had an impact on electronics exports and venture capital investments. Tech exports in Louisiana declined in 2001, dropping from $192 million to $179 million, and venture capital investments in Louisiana decreased from $161 million to $22 million - a decline of 86 percent.

"The fact that Louisiana saw a slight increase in its tech industry employment is overshadowed by the reduction in exports and the drastic drop in venture capital investments," said Melissa Hendrick, AeA Texas Council executive director. "The digital divide still exists in Louisiana, and the state should begin proactively seeking opportunities to support its 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 Louisiana -

• 28,738 high-tech workers (34^{th ranked cyberstate)}

• ^{8,900 jobs added between 1995 and 2001, ranked 32nd nationwide}

• ^{Gained 800 tech jobs in 2001, compared with tech job growth of 3,800 in 2000}

• ^{High-tech firms employ 19 of every 1,000 private sector workers, ranked 50th nationwide}

• ^{High-tech workers earned an average wage of $42,900 (45th ranked), or 53 percent more than the average private sector wage in 2000}

• ^{A high-tech payroll of $1.2 billion in 2000, ranked 36th nationwide}

• ^{2,100 high-tech establishments in 2000, ranked 33rd nationwide}

• ^{High-tech exports totaled $179 million, ranked 44th nationwide}

• ^{High-tech exports represented 1 percent of Louisiana’s exports}

• ^{A decrease of $13 million in high-tech exports between 2000 and 2001}

• ^{Venture capital investments of $22 million, ranked 41st nationwide}

• ^{Venture capital investments declined by 86 percent between 2000 and 2001, dropping by $139 million}

• ^{R&D expenditures of $630 million in 1999, ranked 38th nationwide}

• ^{Home computer penetration reached 46 percent, ranked 49th nationwide}

• ^{Home Internet access totaled 41 percent, ranked 48th nationwide}