Palm Bay-Melbourne Employment Totals 20,700
Tech Accounts for Over 10% of Workforce in Palm Bay – Melbourne

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.

The high-tech industry in Palm Bay-Melbourne (Brevard County) employed 20,700 in 2006, according to the most current data available. These jobs accounted for nearly 12 percent of the private sector workforce in the Palm Bay-Melbourne metro area, the ninth highest concentration in the nation. These jobs are also high paying, with the average tech worker in this metro area earning $68,800 in 2006, or 76 percent more than the average private sector wage.

The electronic components manufacturing sector accounted for over a third of all tech employment in Palm Bay-Melbourne (7,600 jobs), ranked seventh in the nation. The computer systems design and related services sector employed 2,600 workers in 2006.

“While Brevard County's tech industry might not be as large as other areas of Florida, it plays a critical role in the region’s economy, as one in every nine jobs is in the tech industry,” said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA’s Florida Council. “Tech companies find a strong pipeline of qualified technical talent and a quality of life that is hard to beat in Brevard County. However, complacency will lead to decline and with the future of the space program in flux, it is even more critical to retain and help grow the tech industry in Brevard County. In order to do that, we need to do all we can to make sure Brevard County’s children have a strong foundation in math and science so that they have the option of becoming researchers, engineers, computer programmers, network administrators, or yes, even rocket scientists if they so desire.”

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 Palm Bay-Melbourne, FL?

• 20,700 high-tech workers in 2006 (52nd ranked cybercity)
   

• 200 jobs lost between 2005 and 2006 (56th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 116 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (9th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $68,800 (39th ranked), or 76 percent more than Palm Bay-Melbourne’s average private sector wage.
   

• A high-tech payroll of $1.4 billion in 2006, 53rd ranked cybercity
   

• 700 high-tech establishments in 2006, 60th ranked cybercity

Palm Bay-Melbourne’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 7th in electronic components and accessories manufacturing employment with 7,600 jobs
   
• 16th in computer and peripheral manufacturing employment with 1,600 jobs
   
• 56th in computer systems design and related services employment with 2,600 jobs

Notes:

Palm Bay-Melbourne = Brevard County in Florida

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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