Illinois’ Tech Industry Adds 1,200 Jobs
Venture Capital Investments in Illinois Rise 33 Percent in 2006

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (April 24, 2007) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association with 2,500 member companies representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its 10th anniversary Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2007: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Illinois's high-tech industry experienced a net gain of 1,200 jobs in 2005, the most current state data available. Illinois remained the 7th largest cyberstate employing 205,700 with a total payroll of $15.4 billion. Illinois ranked 4th by tech industry employment in four manufacturing sectors: measuring and control instruments (11,900 total jobs), electronic components (11,900 total jobs), communications equipment (10,000 total jobs), and consumer electronics (2,000 total jobs).

Illinois saw its largest job gains in computer systems design and related sectors (+2,600 jobs) and engineering services (+1,400 jobs). Losses were concentrated in telecommunications services (-1,400 jobs), measuring and control instruments manufacturing (-700 jobs), and communications equipment manufacturing (-600 jobs).

“Illinois continues to be an attractive location for high tech industry innovation,” said Marty Singer, Chair of the AeA’s Midwest Council and PCTEL’s Chairman and CEO. “We saw job growth in 2005 for the first time since the bursting of the tech bubble. We saw venture capital investments rise 33 percent in 2006 – the second straight annual increase. To maintain this momentum, we need greater attention to attracting highly specialized workers from around the world and developing our local technology resources. We need more focus on those issues from Springfield and Washington and less energy directed to imposing new, onerous taxes –such as the Gross Receipts Tax – that will halt technology growth in Illinois,” added Singer.

Nationally, Cyberstates 2007 shows that the high-tech industry is picking up. High-tech employment was up by 146,600 out of 5.8 million workers in 2006, the second year in a row that the U.S. tech industry has added jobs.

This 10th edition of Cyberstates provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry nationally and state-by-state in terms of high-tech employment, wages, payroll, and establishments. Cyberstates also offers data on venture capital investments and R&D expenditures.

A national and state-by-state analysis of the technology industry and international trade will appear in a forthcoming AeA report entitled Trade in the Cyberstates 2007: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade.

AeA members can purchase Cyberstates 2007 for $125; non-members for $250. Visit www.aeanet.org/cyberstates to download the report, or call 408.987.4200.  

What Does High Tech Mean for Illinois?

• 205,700 high-tech workers (7th ranked cyberstate)
   

• 1,200 jobs added between 2004 and 2005
   

• High-tech firms employed 42 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 29th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $74,900 (13th ranked), or 71 percent more than Illinois's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $15.4 billion in 2005, ranked 8th nationwide
   

• 15,400 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 5th nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $392 million in 2006, up 33 percent from $295 billion in 2005
   

• R&D expenditures of $11.3 billion in 2004, ranked 8th nationwide

Illinois’ National Industry Sector Rankings:

•  4th in measuring and control instruments with 11,900 jobs
   

• 4th in electronic components manufacturing employment with 11,900 jobs
   

• 4th in communications equipment manufacturing employment with 10,000 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2007

Data are for 2005 unless otherwise noted.

2005 state data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

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 with 2,500 member companies 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 04/23/07.             
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