State’s Technology Exports Remain Strong

Redmond, WA, November 19, 2003—Idaho’s high-technology industry lost 2,600 jobs between 2001 and 2002, according to Cyberstates 2003: A State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, a new analytical report released today by AeA.

Cyberstates 2003 shows that Idaho’s tech industry dropped by 7 percent in 2002 to 35,000 workers. The state’s largest technology sector, semiconductor manufacturing, lost 1,000 jobs and now totals 12,000 workers. Nationwide, Idaho houses the 5th-largest semiconductor manufacturing base. Additionally, Idaho is home to the 8^th largest computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing sector with 5,000 workers.

"While the latest Cyberstates data show that Idaho was not spared in the technology downturn, it could have been worse," said Terry Byington, executive director, AeA’s Washington/Idaho office. "It would seem that our semiconductor industry remains strong."

Cyberstates 2003 also examines tech exports and venture capital investments. Idaho exported $1.2 billion worth of high-tech goods in 2002, representing 60 percent of all exports from the state, the third highest ratio in the nation. Venture capital investments in Idaho totaled $18 million in 2002, up from $3 million in 2001, making Idaho one of just five states whose venture capital investments increased last year.

Nationally, Cyberstates 2003 shows that high-tech employment fell by 540,000 jobs, dropping to 6 million in 2002. However, using preliminary data, we estimate that the tech industry will lose 234,000 jobs in 2003.

For the first time, Cyberstates 2003 is based on the newly implemented North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). This more current and comprehensive system allows us to capture several sectors, which we could not with the previous system. These include fiber optic cable manufacturers, semiconductor machinery manufacturers, and web search portals. Consequently, the data presented in this report are not comparable in any way to previous editions of Cyberstates.

This seventh annual edition of Cyberstates provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry nationally and by state of high-tech employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and exports. Cyberstates also offers data on venture capital investments, and R&D expenditures.

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

 What Does High Tech Mean for Idaho?

• High-tech firms employ 76 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2002, ranked 8^th nationwide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $53,725 (28^th ranked), or 96% more than the average private sector wage

• High-tech exports totaled $1.2 billion in 2002, ranked 24^th nationwide

• R&D expenditures of $1.4 billion in 2000, ranked 30^th nationwide

Idaho’s National Industry Segment Rankings:

• 20^th in R&D and testing labs employment with 7,800

Source: Cyberstates 2003
Data are for 2002 unless otherwise noted.
2001 data are the most current for wages, payroll, establishments, and industry segment jobs.