Oregon’s Tech Industry Adds 2,900 Jobs
Oregon’s Semiconductor Manufacturing Industry, 3rd Largest Nationwide, Adds 600 Jobs

Lake Oswego, OR (April 2, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released its 11th annual Cyberstates report detailing national and state trends in high-tech employment, wages, and other key economic factors. The report, Cyberstates 2008: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, covers all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

Oregon's high-tech industry added 2,900 net jobs, a three percent increase, for a total of 86,000 in 2006, the most recent year comprehensive state data are available. Oregon’s largest technology sector is semiconductor manufacturing, which added 600 net jobs in 2006, for a total of 26,800. Oregon is the 3rd ranked cyberstate nationwide in semiconductor manufacturing employment. Total tech manufacturing in Oregon was up by over 800 jobs.

On the services side, the largest increase in technology jobs occurred in Oregon’s software publishers sector which added 900 jobs, the 8th ranked cyberstate in that sector. Following this were engineering services (+600), computer systems design and related services (+400), and Internet services (+300).

“Oregon has a large and growing technology industry, balanced between manufacturing and services,” said Jennifer Bosze, executive director of the AeA Oregon Council. High-tech job growth boosts our economy both through the innovation that is created and because tech industry wages are more than double the state’s average private sector wage – $75,600 compared to $37,700.”

“We want to keep these high paying jobs in Oregon and see them grow in the future,” said Bosze. “To ensure that, the industry needs highly skilled and educated workers. Oregon is helping to address this issue through the Engineering and Technology Industry Council where we work together with our universities to grow engineering and computer science programs statewide. We also need help from Congress to allow companies greater access to foreign nationals who graduate from our universities and are then forced to leave the country because they cannot obtain visas.”

Nationally, Cyberstates 2008 shows that the high-tech industry added jobs for the third consecutive year. Tech industry employment totaled 5.9 million, after adding 91,400 jobs in 2007. This is on top of job gains of 139,000 in 2006 and 87,400 in 2005.

This 11th 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.

Two other major AeA cyber reports are forthcoming that analyze the U.S. high-tech industry: Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation’s Top 60 Cities, and Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade.

AeA members can purchase Cyberstates 2008 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 Oregon?

• 86,000 high-tech workers in 2006 (20th ranked cyberstate)
   

• 2,900 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006
   

• High-tech firms employed 60 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006, ranked 12th nationwide
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $75,600 (16th ranked), or 101 percent more than Oregon's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $6.5 billion in 2006, ranked 19th nationwide
   

• 4,700 high-tech establishments in 2006, ranked 23rd nationwide
   

• Venture capital investments of $301 million in 2007, up 97 percent from $153 million in 2006, ranked 16th nationwide
   

• R&D expenditures of $3.7 billion in 2004, ranked 23rd nationwide

Oregon’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 3rd in semiconductor manufacturing employment with 26,800 jobs
   

• 8th in software publishers employment with 8,200 jobs
   

• 10th in computer and peripheral equipment manufacturing employment with 3,600 jobs

Source: Cyberstates 2008

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 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)

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About AeA

AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association, 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 04/01/08.   
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