U.S. Tech Industry Added 78,300 Jobs from January to July 2008,
AeA Report Finds

Tech Industry is Adding Jobs, but at a Slowing Pace Amidst Economic Downturn

Washington, DC (October 15, 2008) – Today AeA released an employment study based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data that shows the U.S. high-tech industry added 78,300 jobs between January and July of 2008, a 1.3 percent rise, for a total of 5.92 million. This job growth is less than the 111,400 tech jobs added during the same period in 2007. The January to July 2008 tech job growth also lags that of the U.S. private sector, which rose by 2.0 percent over that period. The report looks at four sectors within the high-tech industry: high-tech manufacturing; communications services; software services; and engineering and tech services.

"This is the fourth straight year that the U.S. tech industry is adding jobs," said AeA’s President and CEO, Christopher W. Hansen. "But the pace of growth is slowing, and given the economic downturn and current disruption in the financial markets, future job growth will be – at best – uncertain.”

High-tech manufacturing employment in the United States is down in the first seven months of 2008, continuing the downward trend of the last 19 months. Technology manufacturers shed 2,500 net jobs in the United States from January to July of 2008 for a total of 1.28 million jobs. This represents a slight 0.2 percent decrease.

High-tech services employment in the United States is up, adding 80,800 net jobs in the United States from January to July of 2008. This represents a 1.8 percent rise. Within tech services, the most significant growth occurred in engineering and tech services, which added 50,000 jobs, a 3.1 percent rise. Software services added 42,300 jobs, a 2.6 percent rise. Communications services decreased by 11,500 jobs, or 0.9 percent, from January to July of 2008.

“AeA believes strongly that for the high-tech industry to continue to create high paying American jobs, investment in scientific research and education is crucial,” continued Hansen. “AeA was proud to have been instrumental in promoting legislation that would do just that – the America Competes Act, which was signed into law in August 2007. The catch is that this bipartisan legislation was never fully funded. The high-tech industry recognizes that budget shortfalls, exacerbated by the current financial crisis and rescue package, will require the federal government to make difficult funding choices; but these are not investments that can be scaled back or postponed without inflicting long-term damage to American competitiveness.”

All data are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Current Employment Survey and are preliminary. This report is not comparable to AeA’s annual Cyberstates report, which examines the high-tech industry for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

This report, as well as all installments of the AeA Competitiveness Series, can be downloaded for free at: www.aeanet.org/cs.


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About AeA
AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, is dedicated solely to helping our members’ top line and bottom line. We do this in partnership with our small, medium, and large member companies by lobbying governments at the state, federal, and international levels, providing access to capital and business opportunities, and offering select business services and networking programs. For more information, please visit www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 10/15/08.