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, Oklahoma’s high-technology industry added 700 jobs in 2001, growing by 2 percent. The state growth rate was higher than the national growth rate of 1 percent. Total tech employment for the state reached 39,723. This slight growth was a dramatic change from the previous year, during which tech employment grew by 4,400 jobs.

Cyberstates 2002 also shows the tech slowdown had an impact on electronics exports and venture capital investments. Tech exports in Oklahoma declined in 2001, dropping from $366 million to $297 million, and venture capital investments in Oklahoma declined by 42 percent, decreasing from $40.4 million to $23.4 million. "Like many other states in the nation, Oklahoma has suffered from the technology slowdown," said Melissa Hendrick, AeA Texas Council executive director. "As the state of the economy begins to improve, Oklahoma will need to make a concerted effort to support the progress of its emerging 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 Oklahoma –

• 39,723 high-tech workers (29^th ranked cyberstate)

• 9,100 jobs added between 1995 and 2001, ranked 31^st nationwide

• Gained 700 tech jobs in 2001, compared with tech job growth of 4,400 in 2000

• High-tech firms employ 34 of every 1,000 private sector workers, ranked 32^nd nationwide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $45,900 (26^th ranked), or 73 percent more than the average private sector wage in 2000

• A high-tech payroll of $1.8 billion in 2000, ranked 30^th nationwide

• 2,200 high-tech establishments in 2000, ranked 31^st nationwide

• High-tech exports totaled $300 million, ranked 39^th nationwide

• High-tech exports represented 11 percent of Oklahoma’s exports

• A decrease of $69 million in high-tech exports between 2000 and 2001

• Venture capital investments of $23 million, ranked 39^th nationwide

• Venture capital investments declined by 42 percent between 2000 and 2001, dropping by $17 million

• R&D expenditures of $660 million in 1999, ranked 37^th nationwide

• Home computer penetration reached 50 percent, ranked 44^th nationwide

• Home Internet access totaled 44 percent, ranked 44^th nationwide

• 20^th in communications services employment with 20,900 jobs

• 22^nd in photonics manufacturing employment with 330 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.