New Jersey’s Tech Industry Adds 100 Jobs
New Jersey Is the 9th Largest Cyberstate by Tech Industry Employment

Clark, NJ (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.

New Jersey's high-tech industry experienced a net gain of 100 jobs in 2005, the most recent year state data are available. New Jersey remained the 9th largest cyberstate employing 197,200 with a total payroll of $16.6 billion.

At the sector level, New Jersey saw both job gains and losses in 2005. Like many states, New Jersey suffered losses in the telecommunications services sector (-1,700 jobs). On the positive side, New Jersey saw growth in several sectors including computer design and related services (+2,000 jobs), engineering services (+300 jobs), and software publishers (+200 jobs).

"The tech industry is finally turning a corner in New Jersey, adding jobs for the first time since 2001,” said Thomas Shields, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, ANADIGICS, Inc. and Chair of the New Jersey-Pennsylvania Council of AeA. "And many tech sectors – in both manufacturing and services – are growing. The Garden State remains the 9th largest cyberstate by total tech employment. And the average tech industry wage is 72 percent higher than the average annual wage of New Jersey’s private sector.”

“To promote long-term growth of high-tech jobs,” continued Shields, “New Jersey’s state and local officials need to sharpen their focus on improving the math and science education of our children. Unless we are preparing our kids to enter science and engineering programs in college they will not be prepared for the growing number of technology jobs that will be available in the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century."

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 New Jersey?

• 197,200 high-tech workers (9th ranked cyberstate)
   

• 100 jobs added between 2004 and 2005
   

• High-tech firms employed 60 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 12th   nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $84,200 (3rd ranked), or 72 percent more than New Jersey's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $16.6 billion in 2005, ranked 7th nationwide
   

• 13,700 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 7th nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $771 million in 2006, ranked 7th nationwide
   

• R&D expenditures of $12.6 billion in 2004, ranked 7th nationwide

New Jersey's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 5th in R&D and testing labs employment with 34,000 jobs
   

• 5th in defense electronics manufacturing employment with 8,900 jobs
   

• 7th in computer systems design and related services employment with 51,400 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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