Thursday, April 20, 2006

AeA Study Shows Slight Rise In Tech Growth

The AeA, an industry group that represents high tech companies, released its annual Cyberstates report yesterday, reporting on high tech employment in the area. The Cyberstates 2006 report found that Washington state now ranks number two in software publishing employment, and that the state added 1200 jobs in 2004, the latest numbers available. Washington ranked 14th in the report with a total of 152,000 high-tech workers. Oregon was ranked 20th, with 81,700 high tech workers, and a net total of 200 high tech jobs gained in 2004. The stablization was a big change from the numbers for 2002 and 2003, when Oregon lost more than 6,000 high tech jobs. In terms of venture investment, the AeA reported that VC investments in Washington State totaled $752M, and VC investments in Oregon totaled $138M in 2005. Both numbers were slightly down 9 percent from 2004 numbers.