Tampa-St. Petersburg Adds 800 High-Tech Jobs
Tech Workers in Tampa-St. Petersburg Earn 73 Percent More than the Area’s Private Sector

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.

Tampa-St. Petersburg's high-tech industry added 800 net jobs in 2006, according to the most current metropolitan data available. Tech employment totaled 56,700 in 2006. These workers are well paid, with an average annual wage of $64,800 – 73 percent more than the average private sector wage. High-tech firms employed five percent of the private sector workforce in Tampa-St. Petersburg.

Tampa-St. Petersburg's leading high-tech industry sectors by employment in 2006 were telecommunications services (14,500 jobs), engineering services (10,700 jobs), and computer systems design and related services (10,500 jobs).

"When most people outside the area think of Tampa and St. Petersburg, they probably don’t think of the high-tech industry," said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA’s Florida Council. "The area is more known for tourism and retirement communities, not for technology and innovation. However, Tampa-St. Petersburg has a strong high-tech industry with 56,700 workers. Local leaders should pay attention however, to the fact that continued growth is not a given. Between 2001 and 2006 over 4,800 high tech jobs were lost. To ensure that the region succeeds in a 21st century global economy, a full court press is needed by parents, teachers, business leaders, and legislators. Focus on improving math and science education, funding university Research & Development, retaining high tech companies and their employees and ensuring access to growth capital are essential to ensuring the industry’s success in the region and in the state.”

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 Tampa-St. Petersburg?

• 56,700 high-tech workers in 2006 (25th ranked cybercity)
   

• 800 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (34th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 52 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (37th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $64,800 (53rd ranked), or 73 percent more than Tampa’s average private sector wage.
   

• A high-tech payroll of $3.7 billion in 2006 (26th ranked cybercity)
   

• 3,300 high-tech establishments in 2006 (22nd ranked cybercity)

Tampa-St. Petersburg’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 14th in telecommunications services employment with 14,500 jobs
   
• 15th in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 4,100 jobs
   
• 19th in engineering services employment with 10,700 jobs

Notes:

Tampa-St. Petersburg = Florida Counties: Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas.

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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