Palm Bay/Melbourne Tech Industry Adds 900 Jobs
More Than 10 Percent of All Private Sector Jobs in Palm Bay/Melbourne Are in the Tech Industry

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.

Palm Bay/Melbourne's tech industry added 900 net jobs in 2005, the most current metropolitan data available, making it the state's 4th largest technology hub, with a total of 20,900 tech industry workers. These workers are paid an average annual wage of $65,800 – 74 percent more than the average private sector wage in the region. High-tech firms employ 119 of every 1,000 private sector workers in Palm Bay/Melbourne.

Palm Bay/Melbourne's leading high-tech industry sectors are electronics components manufacturing, measuring and control instruments manufacturing, and engineering services. Measuring and control instruments manufacturing added 400 net jobs in 2005.

"The Palm Bay/Melbourne metro area saw a robust five percent rise in high-tech jobs in 2005," said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA's Florida Council. "This may come as a surprise to many who think of the area only in terms of our great beaches. If they do think of us in terms of technology, they may think only of NASA. Yet over 10 percent of our private sector workforce is employed by the tech industry, much of which is unrelated to aerospace. We hope local officials realize this and do everything they can to maintain a vibrant local high-tech industry. We face fierce competition from the across the country and around the world for these innovative companies and high-paying jobs."

The Palm Bay/Melbourne metropolitan area includes all of Brevard County.

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 Palm Bay/Melbourne?

• 20,900 high-tech workers (4th ranked Florida cybercity)

• 900 jobs added between 2004 and 2005

• High-tech firms employed 119 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 1st statewide

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $65,800 (1st ranked), or 74 percent more than Palm Bay's average private sector wage

• A high-tech payroll of $1.4 billion in 2005, ranked 4th statewide

• 700 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 5th statewide

What Does High Tech Mean for Palm Bay/Melbourne's Tech Sectors?

• 7,700 jobs in the electronic components manufacturing sector, a net loss of 100 from 2004 to 2005

• 3,300 jobs in the measuring and control instruments manufacturing sector, a net gain of 400 from 2004 to 2005

• 2,600 jobs in the engineering services sector, unchanged 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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