New Mexico’s Tech Industry Adds 300 Jobs
New Mexico Has the 6th Highest Concentration of Tech Workers in the Nation

Scottsdale, AZ (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.

New Mexico's high-tech industry saw a net gain of 300 jobs for a total of 42,900 tech workers in 2005, the most current state data available. As a percentage of the overall private sector workforce, New Mexico has the 6th highest concentration of tech workers in the country.

New Mexico saw its fastest growth in R&D and testing labs (+600 jobs). Following this was computer design and related services (+400 jobs). The largest loss in tech industry jobs in 2005 was in the telecommunications sector (-700 jobs).

"New Mexico’s high-tech industry is strong and growing,” said Keith Prettyjohns, CEO of Innovasic Semiconductor. "Tech is particularly critical to New Mexico’s economy because we have both the 6th highest concentration of tech workers in the country and the 6th largest differential between tech wages and private sector wages. The average tech industry wage in our state is 95 percent more than the state’s average private sector wage.”

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 New Mexico?

• 42,900 high-tech workers (29th ranked cyberstate)
   

• 300 jobs added between 2004 and 2005
   

• High-tech firms employed 72 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2005, ranked 6th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $61,100 (30th ranked), or 95 percent more than New Mexico's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $2.6 billion in 2005, ranked 30th nationwide
   

• 2,100 high-tech establishments in 2005, ranked 36th nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $30.1 million in 2006, ranked 31st nationwide in 2006
   

• R&D expenditures of $5.1 billion in 2004, ranked 19th nationwide

New Mexico’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 9th in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 5,800 jobs
   

• 15th in R&D and testing labs employment with 14,800 jobs
   

• 24th in measuring and control instruments manufacturing employment with 2,800 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 © 2006 American Electronics Association. All rights reserved.