Engineers Aplenty: Houston’s Engineering Employment Ranks No. 2 Among U.S. Cities
Houston’s engineering services industry employed 42,800 in 2006

Dallas, TX (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, ranked Houston second among U.S. cities in engineering employment, according to the recently released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. The report – which tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration, and wage differential at the metropolitan level – confirmed that Houston remains a critical location for the engineering services industry with its 42,800 jobs in 2006, the second largest in the nation.

As a whole, Houston ranked 11th in high-tech employment after adding 4,100 net jobs to its economy in 2006, totaling 117,200, according to the most current state data available. Computer systems design and related services was another strong industry in Houston with more than 23,100 employees, an increase of 1,400 from the previous year. Additionally, the average tech industry worker in Houston earned $84,900 in 2006, or 65 percent higher than the average private sector wage.

“Houston’s high-tech industry has seen two consecutive years of job growth, and we expect this pattern to continue,” said AeA Texas Council Chairperson Douglas Bartek. “Engineers and high-tech industry employees flock toward Houston and its surrounding coastal areas for opportunity. Corporations, both large and small, have found Houston plays a vital role in America’s high-tech industry, and their presence will continue to help stimulate the Houston economy for years to come.”

Cybercities 2008 shows that the top five cybercities by high-tech employment in 2006 were the New York Metro Area, Washington, DC, San Jose/Silicon Valley, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The nation’s highest tech industry concentration was in San Jose/Silicon Valley, where more than one in four private sector workers were employed by the tech industry. Seattle saw the largest tech industry employment growth, adding 7,800 jobs in 2006.

Later this summer, AeA will release Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade. That report will look at the most recent data on high-tech exports from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

AeA members can purchase Cybercities 2008 for $125; non-members for $250.  Visit www.aeanet.org/cybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Houston?

• 117,200 high-tech workers in 2006 (11th ranked cybercity)
   

• 4,100 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (5th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 57 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (31st ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $84,900 (14th ranked cybercity), or 65 percent more than Houston’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $10.0 billion in 2006 (11th ranked cybercity)
   

• 5,800 high-tech establishments in 2006 (11th ranked cybercity)

Houston’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 2nd in engineering services employment with 42,800 jobs
   

• 12th in computer systems design and related services employment with 23,100 jobs
   

• 15th in telecommunications services employment with 14,500 jobs

Notes:

Houston = Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, and Waller counties in Texas.

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Source: Cybercities 2008

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

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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 http://www.aeanet.org.   

This page was last updated on 06/23/08.            
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