Illinois' Tech Industry Totals 204,500 Jobs
Illinois' Venture Capital Investments and Tech Exports Up in 2005

Oakbrook Terrace, IL (April 19, 2006) – AeA, the nation’s largest trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its ninth annual Cyberstates report.  The report provides extensive data on national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, exports, and other key economic factors.  The report, Cyberstates 2006: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Illinois' high-tech industry fell by 6,100 net jobs, for a total of 204,500 in 2004, the most current state data available.  Some tech sectors in Illinois continued to be hit hard by the technology downturn, such as the research and development and testing labs, which lost 3,800 jobs in 2004.  Fortunately, other sectors experienced strong growth; the computer systems design sector added 5,500 jobs. 

A large portion of this job loss occurred in Illinois’s tech manufacturing sectors, which lost 3,200 net jobs between 2003 and 2004.  However, Illinois remains strong in high-tech manufacturing, ranking 3rd nationwide in measuring and control instruments employment and 4th in electronic components employment.

"Illinois is home to many influential tech companies and has a critical mass of highly-educated workers," said Marty Singer, Chairman & CEO, PCTEL, Inc.  "Outstanding universities also provide exceptional talent and support to the high-tech industry.  Despite an overall loss of tech jobs in 2004, the future of Illinois' tech industry is bright.  Venture capital investments in Illinois increased by five percent, and tech exports jumped by 12 percent in 2005.”

“Continued growth depends on maintaining a highly educated workforce,” continued Singer.  “We need dramatic improvements in the math and science offered in our schools, and we need enlightened visa polices that encourage the best and the brightest from around the world to work in the Midwest."

Nationally, Cyberstates 2006 shows that the high-tech industry is edging forward.  High-tech employment added 61,100 net jobs for a total of 5.6 million workers in 2005, the first increase in tech jobs in four years.  U.S. high-tech exports were also up by four percent for a total of $199 billion in 2005.

The ninth 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.  Please visit www.aeanet.org/cyberstates to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Illinois?

• 204,500 high-tech workers (7^th ranked Cyberstate)
   

• 6,100 jobs lost between 2003 and 2004
   

• High-tech firms employed 42 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2004, ranked 29^th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $70,500 (16th ranked), or 67 percent more than Illinois' average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $14.4 billion in 2004, ranked 8^th nationwide
   

• 15,000 high-tech establishments in 2004, ranked 5^th nationwide
   

• High-tech exports totaled $6 billion in 2005, ranked 8^th nationwide
   

• High-tech exports represented 17 percent of Illinois’ export
   

• Venture capital investments of $235 million in 2005, up 5 percent from $223 million in 2004
   

• R&D expenditures of $11 billion in 2003, ranked 8^th nationwide

Illinois’ National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 3^rd in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 12,600 jobs
   

• 4^th in electronic components manufacturing employment with 11,700 jobs
   

• 4^th in communications equipment manufacturing employment with 10,600 jobs
  Data are for 2004 unless otherwise noted.

Source: Cyberstates 2006

2004 data are the most current for state employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry segment 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, founded in 1943, is a nationwide 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 www.aeanet.org.           

This page was last updated on 04/18/06.             
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