Pennsylvania’s high-tech industry added 3,800 net jobs in 2008 despite a recession, according to the 13th annual Cyberstates report published April 28.
The report by the TechAmerica Foundation showed that PA ranked eighth nationally in total high-tech employment with 215,948 total jobs in the sector, with gains in computer systems design and related services (2,900 jobs), engineering services (1,100 jobs) and R&D and testing labs (300 jobs). Pennsylvania ranked fifth in both electronic components manufacturing (12,500 jobs) and R&D and testing labs (36,800 jobs).
Nationally, high tech continued to be a jobs driver in 2008. Forty-one states added tech jobs between 2007 and 2008, despite the recession’s growing pressure. However, those number took a nose dive in 2009.
Every high-tech sector saw employment losses in 2009, says the report. Of the 245,600 jobs lost, 112,600 were in manufacturing. Engineering and tech services saw a net loss of 59,000 jobs, as did communications services, shedding 53,000 jobs. Software services experienced the smallest decline, losing 20,700 jobs, or one percent.”
Numbers on Pennsylvanias 2009 high-tech job losses havent been crunched; state data lags national data by at least a year, says TechAmericas Josh James. But we can be safe in assuming that because national level was so high that most states will show job losses in 2009.
Cyberstates 2010 relies on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics. The report provides 2009 national data on tech employment
as well as 2008 national and state-by-state data on high-tech
employment, wages, establishments, payroll, wage differential, and
employment concentration.
High-tech jobs continue to pay far better than average private sector wages. The average annual salary of $77,500 is 76 percent higher than the Pennsylvania average.
Source: Josh James,TechAmerica
Writer: Chris OToole
