Albuquerque’s Tech Employment Totals 34,400
11 Percent of Private Sector Workers in Albuquerque Are Employed by High-Tech Companies

Scottsdale, AZ (June 24, 2008) – AeA, the nation’s largest technology trade association representing all segments of the high-tech industry, today released Cybercities 2008: An Overview of the High-Technology Industry in the Nation's Top 60 Cities. This detailed report tracks trends in high-tech employment, wages, establishments, payroll, employment concentration, and wage differential at the metropolitan level.

The high-tech industry in Albuquerque employed over 34,400 people in 2006, the most current metropolitan data available, representing an increase of 300 jobs from the previous year, or one percent. These jobs represented 11 percent of the private sector workforce in Albuquerque and were paid well, with the average tech industry worker in Albuquerque earning $65,900 in 2006 or 85 percent more than the average private sector wage of $35,600 in Albuquerque. This wage differential ranked 13th in the nation.

About one third of them, or 12,600 workers, were employed in the area of R&D and testing labs. Almost another third, or 9,500, were employed in high-tech manufacturing in 2006. Approximately 4,600 people were employed in engineering services, which was 200 more than 2005.

“Albuquerque’s high-tech industrial sector continues to expand,” said Gary Tonjes, President of Albuquerque Economic Development. “We need to do all that we can to welcome and support the employers that are creating high-tech jobs, which pay 85 percent more than the average private sector wage in the metro area. Our long-term economic future depends in large measure on our ability to innovate as a region and nation. That future will be brightest for the communities, institutions, and citizens dedicated to science, engineering, and math, which are central to a prosperous high-tech industry.”

Cybercities 2008 shows that the top five cybercities by high-tech employment in 2006 were the New York Metro Area, Washington, DC, San Jose/Silicon Valley, Boston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. The nation’s highest tech industry concentration was in San Jose/Silicon Valley, where more than one in four private sector workers were employed by the tech industry. Seattle saw the largest tech industry employment growth, adding 7,800 jobs in 2006.

Later this summer, AeA will release Trade in the Cyberstates 2008: A State-by-State Overview of High-Tech International Trade. That report will look at the most recent data on high-tech exports from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

AeA members can purchase Cybercities 2008 for $125; non-members for $250.  Visit www.aeanet.org/cybercities to download the report, or call 408.987.4200. 

What Does High Tech Mean for Albuquerque?

• 34,400 high-tech workers in 2006 (32nd ranked cybercity)
   

• 300 jobs gained between 2005 and 2006 (43rd ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech firms employed 113 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2006 (10th ranked cybercity)
   

• High-tech workers earned an average wage of $65,900 (49th ranked), or 85 percent more than Albuquerque's average private sector wage
   

• A high-tech payroll of $2.3 billion in 2006 (35th ranked cybercity)
   

• 1,000 high-tech establishments in 2006 (49th ranked cybercity)

Albuquerque’s National Industry Sector Rankings:

• 12th in R&D and testing labs employment with 12,600 jobs
   

• 42nd in engineering services employment with 4,600 jobs
   

• 43rd in telecommunication services employment with 4,500 jobs

Notes:

Albuquerque = New Mexico Counties: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, and Valencia.

Data are for 2006 unless otherwise noted.

2006 data are the most current available for employment, wages, payroll, establishments, and industry sector jobs.

Source: Cybercities 2008

Published by AeA, Advancing the Business of Technology (www.aeanet.org)

- # # # -

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 06/24/08.            
Copyright © 2008 American Electronics Association.   All rights reserved.