Miami/Fort Lauderdale Is Florida’s Leading Cybercity
Tech Wages Pay 57 Percent More than the Area’s Average Private Sector Wage

Orlando, FL (September 25, 2007) – AeA, the nation's largest trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released Florida Cybercities 2007. The report provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry statewide and in the 10 largest metropolitan areas by high-tech employment, wages, payroll, and establishments.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale is the state's largest technology hub, with 75,300 tech industry workers in 2005, the most current metropolitan data available. These workers are paid an average annual wage of $61,600 – 57 percent more than the average private sector wage in the region. Miami/Fort Lauderdale experienced a net gain of 50 tech industry jobs in 2005. High-tech firms employ 38 of every 1,000 private sector workers in Miami/Fort Lauderdale.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale's leading high-tech industry sectors by employment are telecommunications services, computer systems design and related services, and engineering services. Engineering services saw the most growth, adding 1,400 net jobs in 2005. However, the loss of 2,200 net jobs in telecommunications services helped to offset the overall growth of Miami/Fort Lauderdale's high-tech employment in 2005.

"This report should provide a wake up call to government and business leaders in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and throughout the state," said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA's Florida Council. "Florida's economy is teeming with high tech. We employ more tech workers than every state but California, Texas, and New York. And within Florida, the Miami/Fort Lauderdale metro area has the most tech industry workers. These are high-paying jobs at cutting-edge companies that spawn innovation and greatly benefit the state. Local leaders need to formulate policies which keep those jobs here and keep them growing."

The Miami/Fort Lauderdale metropolitan area includes Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties.

Florida's statewide high-tech industry employment added 10,900 net jobs, or by four percent, for a tech industry total of 276,400 jobs in 2005, the most current state data available. This makes Florida the 4th ranked cyberstate by tech industry employment and the 2nd fastest growing cyberstate in 2005. Geographically, Florida's tech industry is diffused across the state.

Florida Cybercities 2007 is directly comparable to AeA’s annual Cyberstates report. Released in April, Cyberstates 2007 provides a comprehensive review of the high-technology industry at the national and state-by-state level.

AeA members can purchase Florida Cybercities 2007 for $45; non-members for $90. Please visit www.aeanet.org/FLcybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200.

What Does High Tech Mean for Miami/Fort Lauderdale?

• 75,300 high-tech workers (1st ranked Florida cybercity)

• 50 jobs added between 2004 and 2005

• High-tech firms employed 38 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 6th statewide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $61,600 (6th ranked), or 57 percent more than Miami/Fort Lauderdale's average private sector wage

• A high-tech payroll of $4.6 billion in 2005, ranked 1st statewide

• 6,700 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 1st statewide

What Does High Tech Mean for Miami/Fort Lauderdale's Tech Sectors?

• 19,400 jobs in the telecommunications services sector, a net loss of 2,200 from 2004 to 2005

• 16,100 jobs in the computer systems design and related services sector, a net loss of 300 from 2004 to 2005

• 14,400 jobs in the engineering services sector, a net gain of 1,400 from 2004 to 2005

Source: Florida Cybercities 2007

Data are for 2005 unless otherwise noted.

2005 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, 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 www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 09/24/07.  
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