Tampa/St. Petersburg Tech Industry Adds 2,100 Jobs
Tampa/St. Petersburg’s Engineering Services Sector Adds 1,000 Jobs in 2005

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.

Tampa/St. Petersburg's high-tech industry added 2,100 net jobs in 2005, the most current metropolitan data available. This makes Tampa/St. Petersburg the state's 2nd largest technology hub, with 55,900 tech industry workers in 2005. These workers are paid an average annual wage of $60,800 – 70 percent more than the average private sector wage in Tampa/St. Petersburg. High-tech firms employ 53 of every 1,000 private sector workers in Tampa/St. Petersburg.

Tampa/St. Petersburg's leading high-tech industry sectors by employment are telecommunications services, engineering services, and computer systems design and related services. Engineering services added 1,000 net jobs and computer systems design and related services added 400 net jobs in 2005. Telecommunications services remained constant from 2004 to 2005.

"When most people think of Tampa and St. Petersburg, they probably don’t think of high tech," said Maryann Fiala, Executive Director of AeA's Florida Council. "The same could be said for the entire state of Florida. We are known for citrus fruits and tourism, not technology and innovation. Yet Florida employs more technology workers than all but three other states. Tampa and St. Petersburg are home to nearly 60,000 tech jobs and growing. Local leaders need to build on this success by creating incentives to keep technology companies in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area and attract new companies to open shop here. The fact is competition for these jobs is fierce, across the country and around the world."

The Tampa/St. Petersburg metropolitan area includes Hernando, Hillsborough, Pasco, and Pinellas 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 Tampa/St. Petersburg?

• 55,900 high-tech workers (2nd ranked Florida cybercity)
• 2,100 net job gain between 2004 and 2005
• High-tech firms employed 53 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 4th statewide
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $60,800 (7th ranked), or 70 percent more than Tampa/St. Petersburg's average private sector wage
• A high-tech payroll of $3.4 billion in 2005, ranked 2nd statewide
• 3,200 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 2nd statewide

What Does High Tech Mean for Tampa/St. Petersburg's Tech Sectors?

• 14,700 jobs in the telecommunications sector in 2005, remaining constant from 2004 to 2005
• 9,800 jobs in the computer systems design and related services sector in 2005, a net gain of 400 from 2004 to 2005
• 10,000 jobs in the engineering services sector in 2005, a net gain of 1,000 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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