Wisconsin’s Tech Industry Adds 1,600 Jobs
Wisconsin Ranks 3rd in the Nation in Electromedical Equipment Manufacturing Employment

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (April 2, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association, representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its 11th annual Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2008: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Wisconsin's high-tech industry added 1,600 jobs, for a total of 81,400 in 2006, the most current state data available. The growth was dispersed across a variety of sectors. Software services added 700 net jobs and engineering and tech services added 1,800 jobs. These job gains were somewhat offset by the 600 jobs lost in tech manufacturing and the 300 jobs lost in communications services. 

On the manufacturing side, Wisconsin's electromedical equipment industry was the third largest in the nation, employing 5,800 people in 2006.

"Wisconsin's tech industry experienced its third year of technology employment growth,” said Ed Longanecker, Executive Director, AeA Midwest Council. "These jobs, and the high-tech industry, are critical to the well-being of the state economy, as tech industry jobs in Wisconsin pay 65 percent more than the average private sector job.”

"We need to support industry growth by focusing on developing the skills and education of our technical workforce in a globalized marketplace," continued Longanecker. "Our state policymakers need to improve the math and science education of children, and our federal policymakers need to increase funding for early stage research and development. By focusing on American's strengths we can improve our local and national economy and support those high paying jobs."

Nationally, Cyberstates 2008 shows that the high-tech industry added jobs for the third consecutive year. Tech industry employment totaled 5.9 million, after adding 91,400 jobs in
2007. This is on top of job gains of 139,000 in 2006 and 87,400 in 2005.

This 11th 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.

Two other major AeA cyber reports are forthcoming that analyze the U.S. high-tech industry: Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation’s Top 60 Cities, and Trade in the Cyberstates 2007: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade.

AeA members can purchase Cyberstates 2008 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 Wisconsin?

• 81,400 high-tech workers in 2006 (21st ranked cyberstate)
   

• 1,600 jobs added between 2005 and 2006
   

• High-tech firms employed 34 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006, ranked 35th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $60,100 (34th ranked), or 65 percent more than Wisconsin's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $4.9 billion in 2006, ranked 22nd nationwide
   

• 4,800 high-tech establishments in 2006, ranked 22nd nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $87.6 million in 2007, up 21 percent from $72.3 million in 2006, ranked 28th nationwide
   

• R&D expenditures of $3.7 billion in 2004, ranked 22nd nationwide

Wisconsin's National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 3rd in electromedical equipment manufacturing employment with 5,800 jobs
   

• 9th in electronic components manufacturing employment with 7,300 jobs
   

• 14th in software publishers employment with 4,900 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2008

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 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, 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 03/27/08.               
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