Orlando’s Tech Industry Adds 1,800 Jobs
Orlando’s Tech Employment Increases Three Straight Years

Orlando, FL (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. This detailed report tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration, and wage differential at the metropolitan level.

Orlando’s high-tech industry added 1,800 net jobs for an industry total of 44,600 in 2006, according to the most current metropolitan data available tech employment. Tech jobs are also paid well, with the average worker earning $65,000, 73 percent more than the average private sector wage.

Telecommunications services employed 11,500 people in 2006, a quarter of Orlando’s high-tech workforce. This was an increase of 1,100 jobs from 2005. The next largest sector in Orlando was engineering services with 9,200 jobs.

“Orlando’s high-tech industry has seen significant growth for the past three years,” said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA’s Florida Council. “However, if we want the industry to continue growing in Orlando, we need to focus on education. Our children need a strong background in math and science at an early age in order to be prepared for these educational fields in college. We need our parents, teachers, and school boards to realize the importance of these fields, and improve the quality of education our children are receiving. This is why AeA will be launching the ‘Focus Florida: Pass It On!’ campaign to raise awareness among all Floridians about the importance of the tech industry to Orlando and the state’s economy and education’s role in ensuring we can compete in a global economy.”

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 Orlando?

• 44,600 high-tech workers in 2006 (28th ranked cybercity)
   

• 1,800 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (20th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 49 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (40th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $65,000 (52nd ranked), or 73 percent more than Orlando’s average private sector wage.
   

• A high-tech payroll of $2.9 billion in 2006 (31st ranked cybercity)
   

• 2,600 high-tech establishments in 2006 (27th ranked cybercity)

Orlando’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 20th in telecommunications services employment with 11,500 jobs
   
• 31st in computer systems design and related services employment with 8,700 jobs
   
• 25th in engineering services employment with 9,200 jobs

Notes:

Orlando = Lake, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties.

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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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 http://www.aeanet.org.   

This page was last updated on 06/20/08.            
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