High tech industries in Northeast Ohio and Ohio add jobs in 2008

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Cleveland — NorTech, the champion for growing Northeast Ohio’s high tech economy, today reported impressive gains in Northeast Ohio’s and Ohio’s high tech employment despite the current economic downturn.

In 2008, total employment in Northeast Ohio stood at 1.8 million jobs, with 181,190 jobs credited to the high tech sector, representing 9.1% of the region’s economy. Between 2004 and 2008, Northeast Ohio’s high tech employment grew 3.7%, and added 6,499 jobs, while employment in Northeast Ohio’s non high tech industries declined 1.4% and lost 25,670 jobs. Average wages in Northeast Ohio’s high tech industries are $70,075 which is almost double those wages in Northeast Ohio’s non- high tech industries at $37,297.

Similar trends were identified for the entire state of Ohio. Last year, statewide data for Ohio show total employment at 5.2 million jobs, with 495,088 jobs credited to the high-tech sector, representing 9.5% of the state’s economy. Between 2004 and 2008, Ohio’s high tech employment grew 4.0%, and added 19,198 jobs, while employment in Ohio’s non-high tech industries declined 0.2% and lost 7,247 jobs. Average wages for employees in Ohio’s high tech industries are $76,674, more than double the wages in Ohio’s non-high tech industries at $37,803.

“The recent high tech employment numbers are encouraging and energizing. Northeast Ohio is benefitting from public and private support and our high tech economy is growing as a result. But, our job is not done; Ohio must continue to invest in research, technology commercialization, entrepreneurship, venture capital formation and education to compete globally. We need to attract more federal dollars to complement our state investments,” said Dorothy C. Baunach, president and CEO of NorTech.

The high tech employment and annual wage data is collected for NorTech’s annual analysis of the Northeast Ohio high tech economy, which will be published in fall 2009. The research is conducted by the Center for Economic Development at Cleveland State University’s Levin College of Urban Affairs. The Cleveland State research team used a definition of high tech industries and occupations developed by Daniel Hecker, an economist at the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

About NorTech:
NorTech, the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition, is the champion for growing Northeast Ohio's high tech economy. NorTech is the only organization that focuses solely on our high tech economy, across all sectors. We have one, unwavering purpose: To invigorate growth in Northeast Ohio's high tech economy and broadcast our successes. We build industries from technology areas where we have the best opportunities to be successful by marshaling the resources and forging collaborations to put our high tech economy on the fast-track. www.nortech.org

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