North Carolina’s Tech Employment Totals 136,000
High-Tech Exports from North Carolina Increase in 2004

Alpharetta, GA, April 26, 2005 – North Carolina's high-tech industry employment fell by 10,300 from 146,300 in 2002 to 136,000 in 2003, the most recent available state data.  While North Carolina was hit hard by the technology slowdown, the high-tech job losses slowed in 2003 compared to 2002, according to Cyberstates 2005:  A State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, a new analytical report released today by AeA.

The report found that high-tech exports from North Carolina increased by $118 million to $3.3 billion in 2004, with high-tech exports representing 18 percent of all exports from the state.

"North Carolina remains a key location for the nation's high-tech industry," said Chuck Swoboda, CEO of Cree, one of the state's largest high-tech exporters.  "The impressive increase in exports last year demonstrates that North Carolina's high-tech industry is on the rise.  This is good news for the economy because high-tech workers earn nearly twice as much as the average private sector worker."

Nationally, Cyberstates 2005 shows that the high-tech industry is slowly turning the corner.  High-tech employment was down by only 25,000 jobs out of 5.6 million workers in 2004.  U.S. high-tech exports were up by 12 percent for a total of $191 billion in 2004.  And, technology related venture capital investments were up for the first time in four years.

This eighth annual edition of Cyberstates provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry nationally and state-by-state by high-tech employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and trade.  Cyberstates also offers data on venture capital investments and R&D expenditures.

AeA members can purchase the report for $95; non-members for $190.  Visit www.aeanet.org to download the report, or call 800.284.4232 or 408.987.4200.

What Does High Tech Mean for North Carolina?

·      136,000 high-tech workers (16^th ranked cyberstate)

·      10,300 jobs lost between 2002 and 2003

·      High-tech firms employed 44 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2003, ranked 26^th nationwide

·      High-tech workers earned an average wage of $63,800 (19^th ranked), or 92% more than North Carolina's average private sector wage

·      A high-tech payroll of $8.7 billion in 2003, ranked 16^th nationwide

·      8,000 high-tech establishments in 2003, ranked 15^th nationwide

·      High-tech exports totaled $3.3 billion in 2004, ranked 12^th nationwide

·      High-tech exports represented 18% of North Carolina’s exports

·      Venture capital investments of $335 million in 2004, down 10% from $374 million in 2003

·      R&D expenditures of $5.1 billion in 2002, ranked 16^th nationwide 

North Carolina’s National Industry Segment Rankings:

·      6^th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 13,500 jobs

·      7^th in communications equipment manufacturing employment with 6,800 jobs

·      9^th in electronic components manufacturing employment with 8,400 jobs

Source:  Cyberstates 2005

Data are for 2003 unless otherwise noted.

2003 data are the most current for state employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry segment jobs.

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology

NOTE TO EDITORS: Press releases focusing on U.S. high-tech trade as well as on specific states are available on AeA’s website.

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About AeA
AeA, founded in 1943, is a nationwide non-profit trade association that represents all segments of the technology industry and 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 04/26/05.