Maryland’s Tech Industry Adds 4,500 Jobs, 6th Fastest Growth in Nation
Maryland Boasts the 5th Highest Concentration of Tech Industry Workers of All Cyberstates

Washington, DC (April 24, 2007) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association with 2,500 member companies representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its 10th anniversary Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2007: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Maryland's high-tech industry saw a net gain of 4,500 jobs – a three percent rise – in 2005, the most current state data available. Maryland moved up from the 13th to the 12th largest cyberstate employing 162,300 tech workers with a total payroll of $12.5 billion.

While many states were suffering job losses in the telecommunications services sector, Maryland showed an increase of 1,000 net jobs in 2005. Other sectors with significant job creation were computer systems design and related services (+2,200), engineering services (+1,700 jobs), and R&D and testing labs (+1,000).

“Maryland’s high-tech industry is generating substantial job gains,” said Gregory Poersch, Executive Director of the AeA Potomac Council. “Maryland is 5th ranked nationwide in terms of concentration of tech workers, with 79 of every 1,000 private sector workers employed by high tech. And these jobs pay 80 percent more than the state’s average private sector wage. Add to this venture capital investments which rose 26 percent to $636 million and the outlook is optimistic for continued high-paying job growth that raises the standard of living and drives the future of Maryland’s economy.”

“We want to see this industry and these high paying jobs continue to grow in Maryland,” continued Poersch. “To ensure that, we call on state and local leaders to improve math and science education in our schools and to support our public universities. Unless we start educating more scientists and engineers, we cannot maintain the growth of high tech in Maryland.”

Nationally, Cyberstates 2007 shows that the high-tech industry is picking up. High-tech employment was up by 146,600 out of 5.8 million workers in 2006, the second year in a row that the U.S. tech industry has added jobs.

This 10th edition of Cyberstates provides a comprehensive review of the high-tech industry nationally and state-by-state in terms of high-tech employment, wages, payroll, and establishments. Cyberstates also offers data on venture capital investments and R&D expenditures.

A national and state-by-state analysis of the technology industry and international trade will appear in a forthcoming AeA report entitled Trade in the Cyberstates 2007: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade.

AeA members can purchase Cyberstates 2007 for $125; non-members for $250. Visit www.aeanet.org/cyberstates to download the report, or call 408.987.4200.

What Does High Tech Mean for Maryland?

• 162,300 high-tech workers (12th ranked cyberstate)
   
• 4,500 jobs added between 2004 and 2005
   
• High-tech firms employed 79 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 5th nationwide
   
• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $77,000 (9th ranked), or 80 percent more than Maryland's average private sector wage
   
• A high-tech payroll of $12.5 billion in 2005, ranked 13th nationwide
   
• 9,600 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 13th nationwide
   
• Venture capital investments of $636 million in 2006, up 26 percent from $504 million in 2005
   
• R&D expenditures of $14.8 billion in 2004, ranked 4th nationwide

Maryland’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 5th in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 10,800 jobs
   
• 6th in computer systems design and related services employment with 54,000 jobs
   
• 7th in engineering services employment with 30,700 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2007

Data are for 2005 unless otherwise noted.

2005 state data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

- # # # -

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 http://www.aeanet.org.

This page was last updated on 04/23/07.   
Copyright © 2007 American Electronics Association.   All rights reserved.