GEORGIA HEATS UP FOR HIGH-TECH EMPLOYMENT
AS NATIONAL RANKING CLIMBS TOWARD TOP 10

ATLANTA (Nov. 19, 2003) — In a time when analysts are predicting a slow but steady economic recovery, Georgia turns up the heat as its 2002 national high-tech employment ranking jumps ahead of its 2001 placement, according to an analytical report released today by AeA (American Electronics Association), the nation’s largest technology trade association.

Displacing Colorado as the nation’s 11th-largest high-tech employer, Georgia boasts nearly 200,000 high-tech professionals, with a documented 180,500 employed in the state during 2002.

Nationally, the high-tech industry lost more than one-half million workers between 2001 and 2002, with its workforce falling by 10 percent. Georgia’s technology employment base fell by only 7 percent – or 14,000 jobs – during that same time, according to AeA’s Cyberstates 2003: A State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry.

"We’re optimistic about AeA’s findings that Georgia continues to move toward the nation’s top 10 high-tech employers," says Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue. "While we lost some jobs last year, our technology industry was stronger than many other states, as AeA verifies. The high-tech industry is important to Georgia’s economic development as it represented $12.4 billion in payroll for tech workers. Georgia companies are ready to grow as the economy continues to pull forward. And Georgians are working daily to attract and retain technology companies to our state."

Randy Keith, chairman of AeA’s Southeast Council and president of Aperum, a Duluth-based provider of software and services for the distribution market, says Georgia leaders must continue working to attract more high-tech players to the state’s economic landscape.

"These statistics are both encouraging and a bit disappointing," Keith says. "The fact that Georgia moved up one place due to another state sustaining a bigger loss is a bit like kissing your sister. For us to truly gain ground, Georgia must continue to focus not only on attracting new technology businesses to the state, but also on retaining and growing the ones who are already here through incentives that create competitive advantage and stimulate job opportunities. The AeA has been and will continue to be a pioneer on this front as we work with our state legislators in the development of programs and legislation to provide these types of incentives."

KEY TECH SECTORS HAVE GEORGIA ON THEIR MINDS

Georgia ranks fifth nationally in telecommunications employment with 59,000 jobs and is the country’s sixth-largest software-publisher with 12,000 jobs, according to Cyberstates 2003.

Georgia’s high-tech workers are also paid well. The state’s 2001 average high-tech wage was $64,000 – 79 percent higher than the state’s average private sector wage. Additionally, Georgia exported $2.4 billion in high-tech exports – accounting for 17 percent of all of the state’s exports – and ranks 14th nationally in that category, according to the study. Last year, venture capital investments in Georgia totaled $564 million, down 38 percent from the $909 million invested in 2001, according to the study.

• 180,488 high-tech workers, ranked 11th nationwide

• 14,400 jobs lost between 2001 and 2002

• A high-tech payroll of $12.4 billion in 2001, ranked 13th nationwide

• 10,050 high-tech establishments in 2001, ranked 13th nationwide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $63,709, 79 percent more than the average private sector wage, ranked 16th nationwide

• High-tech firms employ 57 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2002, ranked 19th nationwide

• High-tech exports totaled $2.4 billion in 2002 and represented 17 percent of Georgia’s exports, ranked 14th nationwide

• R&D expenditures of $2.8 billion in 2000, ranked 21st nationwide

• Venture capital investments equaled $564 million, down 38 percent from $909 million in 2001

 ABOUT ‘CYBERSTATES 2003’

Cyberstates 2003 is the seventh edition of AeA’s Cyberstates reports. The study includes seven chapters detailing national and state trends in employment, wages, and exports. Venture capital investments and research and development (R&D) expenditures are also examined. The report includes state rankings for each indicator. Cyberstates 2003 is based on the most current U.S. government data available.

 ABOUT THE AeA

AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. Founded in 1943, AeA utilizes an extensive international network of offices to serve its members though advocacy, training, research and business services. www.aeanet.org.

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This page was last updated on 11/18/03.