Contacts:
Taryn Lynds, 202.682.4443, taryn_lynds@aeanet.org
Michaela Platzer (research-related inquiries), 202.682.4450, michaela_platzer@aeanet.org

The nation’s software and computer-related services sector fared best despite significant slowdowns, growing five percent in 2001. This sector increased its workforce by some 100,000 jobs in 2001. Though software has been a bright spot in the tech economy for almost a decade, its 2001 performance pales compared to 2000 data when the sector added more than 300,000 jobs.

"The 2001 data vividly demonstrates a trend that began about seven years ago -- namely that the high-tech industry is increasingly dominated by the software sector in terms of jobs and innovations," said AeA’s President and CEO William T. Archey. "Software industry innovation now permeates all other high-tech sectors, including hardware design and manufacturing. Since 1995, manufacturing jobs have increased by 46,000, while software and computer services jobs have increased by 1.2 million."

California added more high-tech jobs to its economic base than any other state, increasing its workforce by 1.3 percent with 12,400 new jobs. In 2000, for comparison, California’s high-tech employment grew by 13 percent by adding 113,000 new jobs.

• U.S. high-tech employment totaled 5.6 million in 2001, up just 1 percent from 5.5 million in 2000

• Software and computer-related services industry employment only jumped by 96,700 jobs in 2001, compared to more than 300,000 jobs added in 2000

• Nearly three times as many software services jobs were added in 2000 (+143,000) than in 2001 (+50,700)

• Data processing and information services employment increased by 26,200 between 2000 and 2001, compared to 129,000 jobs added the previous year

• Communications services employment jumped by 48,600 jobs between 2000 and 2001, down substantially from the 103,000 added in 2000

• Colorado led the nation in concentration of high-tech workers in 2001, with 98 high-tech workers per 1,000 private sector workers

U.S. Tech Exports and Venture Capital Expenditures Fell in 2001

• U.S. high-tech exports fell to $189 billion in 2001, from $223 billion in 2000

• All the nation’s leading high-tech exporting states saw a drop in tech exports between 2000 and 2001: California (-17%), Texas (-15%), New York (-12%), Massachusetts (-21%), and Florida (-1%)

• Venture capital investments fell in all the nation’s top tech states in 2001: California (-62%), Texas (-47%), New York (-71%), Massachusetts (-53%), and Florida (-69%) in 2001

Cyberstates 2002 is available to AeA members for $95 and to non-members for $190. Contact AeA at 800.284.4232 or 408.987.4200, or www.aeanet.org. Cyberstates 2002 is part of AeA’s cyber report series which includes Cybernation 2.0, CyberEducation 2002, and Cybercities.

NOTE TO EDITORS:  Press releases focusing on specific states were released on US Newswire and are available on AeA’s website

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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 06/28/02.