San Diego's Tech Industry Employs 100,000
In San Diego, 1 Out of Every 10 Private Sector Jobs Is in the Tech Industry

San Diego, 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.

San Diego is the state's fourth largest technology hub, with 99,900 tech industry workers in 2004, who are paid an average annual wage of $85,200 – more than double the average private sector wage. San Diego experienced a net loss of 1,800 tech industry jobs in 2004, down from the 3,000 lost in 2003 and the 3,700 lost in 2002. However, long-term tech employment in San Diego is up by 1,600 since 1999.

San Diego ranks in the state's top five by employment in 14 of the 16 high-tech industry sectors. It is the state's industry leader in R&D and testing labs with over 25,000 employees and in consumer electronics manufacturing with 3,300 employees in 2004.

"Too often people only think about Silicon Valley when they equate tech and California," said Melissa Ford, CEO of Vektrek and Chair of the AeA San Diego Council "With 100,000 tech industry jobs and the second highest concentration of tech workers in California, this new report shows that San Diego is also intricately linked to the technology industry. We house the state's largest cluster of R&D and testing labs and offer a friendly business environment. Not to mention great weather and a wonderful quality of life."

"However, all is not perfect," continued Ford. "To maintain our competitiveness as a region, we need to continue investing in our infrastructure and our children. We need to do more to ensure that our kids get a solid background in math and science to prepare them for a technology intensive world. And, we as a country – especially our politicians in Washington – need to separate the issue of illegal immigration from high-skilled legal immigration. Allowing the best and the brightest from around the world to work in our companies helps create wealth and American jobs and keeps our companies strong in an intensely competitive global economy."

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 San Diego?

•  99,900 high-tech workers (4th ranked California cybercity)
• 1,800 jobs lost between 2003 and 2004
• High-tech firms employed 95 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, ranked 2nd statewide
   
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $85,200 (4th ranked), or 105 percent more than San Diego's average private sector wage
   
• A high-tech payroll of $8.5 billion in 2004, ranked 4th statewide
• 4,300 high-tech establishments in 2004, ranked 5th statewide

San Diego’s State Industry Sector Rankings:

• 1st in R&D and testing labs employment with 25,200 jobs
• 1st in consumer electronics manufacturing employment with 3,300 jobs
• 2nd in communications equipment manufacturing employment with 5,100 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)
 

- # # # -

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.

 

# # #

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.