Ohio jobs
Trade group says high-tech hiring increased
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Ohio's high-tech industry gained a net 2,800 jobs in 2006, but that paled in comparison with some other states, according to AeA, a national technology trade association.
That gave Ohio's high-tech industry a total of 155,200 jobs in 2006, the most recent year for which state-by-state data was available, the association said in a report set for release today, April 2. Tech industry workers made an average annual wage of $63,500 in Ohio during 2006, compared with $79,500 nationally.
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AeA, formerly known as the American Electronics Association, based its report on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures.
Hiring in research and development, testing laboratories, and computer systems design and related services drove the growth in Ohio, but it was partly offset by contractions in high-tech manufacturing and communications services, the association said in its report covering the 50 states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
A total of 48 states added high-tech jobs in 2006. California had the biggest net increase, with 21,400 jobs. Texas, with a net gain of 13,700 jobs, and Virginia, with 9,800, were next.
Virginia led the nation in concentration of high-tech workers in 2006, with 91 per every 1,000 private-sector employees. Ohio ranked 36th, with high-tech companies employing 34 of every 1,000 private-sector employees, the association reported.
Economic development officials have identified information technology and aerospace research and development as key sectors for long-term growth prospects in the Dayton region, particularly in relation to research and acquisition work done at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and by contractors serving the base.
National figures available for 2007 showed that the software-services sector led the way with a gain of 82,600 jobs during the year, while engineering and tech services increased by 45,800 jobs. But high-tech manufacturing nationally lost 29,800 jobs, and telecommunications lost 7,200 positions.
The nation needs to boost its high-tech future with adequate investments in scientific research and improvements in the education system, the Washington-based association urged.
