Seattle Sees Nation’s Largest High-Tech Employment Growth, at
7,800 Jobs
Seattle Has the Largest Software Publishing Sector in the Nation with 43,600 Jobs

Lynnwood, WA (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 Seattle grew strongly, adding 7,800 net jobs, a seven percent increase, for an industry total of 127,700 in 2006, according to the most recent metropolitan data available. This was the largest job growth in the nation, and it helped Seattle move up from being the tenth to the ninth largest cybercity in the nation by tech employment. These are also high paying jobs, earning an average wage of $96,200 in 2006, or 93 percent more then the average private sector wage of $49,700, the sixth highest differential in the nation.

Seattle has proven to be a critical location for the software publishing industry, having the most jobs in this sector in the nation. In 2006, software publishers employed 43,600 jobs, an increase of 3,500 from the previous year. Computer systems design and related services was also important to Seattle, totaling 20,200 jobs.

“Seattle’s high-tech industry has seen significant growth for the past three years,” said J.D. Hammerly, a Vice President at Battelle Seattle Research Center. “We owe much of this growth to our vibrant software publishing and wireless businesses. From Microsoft to numerous smaller start-up companies, growth has been strong. However, future growth depends on our ability to make high-tech careers attractive to our children. We need to spark more excitement and enthusiasm for technology, sciences, and math. These skills are critical to prepare young students for an increasingly technical world, providing them with the foundation to become highly paid tech workers.”

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 Seattle?

• 127,700 high-tech workers in 2006 (9th ranked cybercity)
   

• 7,800 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (1st ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 91 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (16th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $96,200 (5th ranked), or 93 percent more than Seattle’s average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $12.3 billion in 2006 (8th ranked cybercity)
   

• 4,900 high-tech establishments in 2006 (15th ranked cybercity)

Seattle’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 1st in software publishers employment with 43,600 jobs
   

• 9th in telecommunications services employment with 18,800 jobs
   

• 9th in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 6,400 jobs

Notes:

Seattle = Washington: King, Snohomish, and Pierce 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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