Orange County's Tech Industry Employs Nearly 100,000
Orange County Has the Most Diverse Technology Base in the Entire State

Newport Beach, CA (June 27, 2006) – AeA, the nation’s largest trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released California Cybercities 2006. The report provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry statewide and in the 17 largest metropolitan areas by high-tech employment, wages, payroll, and establishments.

Orange County is the state’s fifth largest technology hub, employing some 97,700 tech industry workers, and paying them an annual average wage of $73,600 – 63 percent more than the average private sector wage. Orange County saw a net loss of 1,300 tech industry jobs in 2004, dramatically fewer than the 5,100 lost in 2003 and the 11,600 lost in 2002.

Orange County ranks in the state’s top five by employment in all 16 high-tech sectors. The largest are computer systems design and related services (15,000 jobs), telecommunications services (14,300 jobs), and defense electronics manufacturing (9,900 jobs).

"Orange County has the most diverse technology employment base of any California cybercity, more so even than Silicon Valley,” said Brad Yates, Chief Administrative Officer, Mindspeed Technologies. "It is encouraging that the average high-tech wage has increased. Tech companies know that Orange County has much to offer: an excellent quality of life with great weather and beaches, safe neighborhoods, and quality schools.”

“To ensure we add jobs across all technology sectors and keep Orange County competitive, community and industry leaders need to work together,” continued Yates. “We must invest in long-term research and encourage the best and brightest from around the world to study and work in the United States. At the local level, we have to continue to improve our schools, particularly the math and science curricula, so that our kids are prepared for the jobs of the 21st century."

California's statewide high-tech industry employment edged downward by 10,600, or by one percent, for a tech industry total of 904,900 jobs in 2004, the most current state data available. This is dramatically slower than the 67,800 jobs lost in 2003. Geographically, California’s tech industry is diffused across the state. Northern California employs 439,000 tech industry workers, compared to 418,000 in Southern California.

California Cybercities 2006 is directly comparable to AeA’s annual Cyberstates report. Released in April, Cyberstates 2006 provides a comprehensive review of the high-technology industry at the national and state-by-state level.

AeA members can purchase California Cybercities 2006 for $45; non-members for $90. Please visit www.aeanet.org/research to download the report, or call 408.987.4200.


What Does High Tech Mean for Orange County?

• 97,700 high-tech workers (5th ranked cybercity)
• 1,300 jobs lost between 2003 and 2004
• High-tech firms employed 75 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, ranked 4th statewide
   
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $73,600 (8th ranked), or 63 percent more than Orange County's average private sector wage
   
•  A high-tech payroll of $7.2 billion in 2004, ranked 5th statewide
• 4,800 high-tech establishments in 2004, ranked 4th statewide

Orange County’s State Industry Sector Rankings:

• 2nd in defense manufacturing employment with 9,900 jobs
• 2nd in electronic components manufacturing employment with 8,200 job
• 2nd in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 7,300 jobs

Source: California Cybercities 2006

Data are for 2004 unless otherwise noted.

2004 data are the most current for state employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Data throughout this press release are rounded.

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

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About AeA

AeA, founded in 1943, is a nationwide trade association that represents all segments of the technology industry and 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 www.aeanet.org.

 

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Advancing the business of technology, AeA is the nation's largest high-tech trade association. AeA represents more than 3,000 companies with 1.8 million employees. These 3000+ companies span the high-technology spectrum, from software, semiconductors, medical devices and computers to Internet technology, advanced electronics and telecommunications systems and services. With 17 regional U.S. councils and offices in Brussels and Beijing, AeA offers a unique global policy grassroots capability and a wide portfolio of valuable business services and products for the high-tech industry. AeA has been the accepted voice of the U.S. technology community since 1943.

This page was last updated on 06/21/06.