A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry, shows that in 2007, the high-tech industry continued growing, adding 91,400 net jobs for a total of 5.9 million in the United States. This is on top of job gains of 139,000 in 2006 and 87,400 in 2005.

"While we are certainly pleased to report that the technology industry added jobs nationally and across nearly every state, national tech growth slowed in 2007, making the story good but not great," said Christopher Hansen, President and CEO of AeA. "Tech jobs make critical contributions to the U.S. economy in terms of innovation, and pay extremely well – the average tech industry wage is 87 percent higher than the average private sector wage. In 47 cyberstates the average high-tech wage is at least 50 percent higher than the average private sector wage, and in four cyberstates this differential is over 100 percent. While these are the types of jobs every state wants to attract, the labor market remains tight, with unemployment rates below two percent across many tech occupations."

An examination of the sectors reveals that software services added 82,600 jobs in 2007, up for the fourth year in a row. Engineering and tech services added 45,800 jobs in 2007, also up for the fourth year in a row, putting it at an all time high. On the downside, high-tech manufacturing lost 29,800 net jobs in 2007. Seven of the nine tech manufacturing sectors lost jobs in 2007. Only the defense electronics and electromedical equipment sectors added jobs. The communications services sector continued to shed jobs in 2007, albeit at a slower pace, losing 7,200 compared to a loss of 16,900 in 2006.

"AeA is concerned that future growth is being jeopardized unless the United States prepares itself for a vastly more competitive global marketplace," continued Hansen. "The tech industry and the country risk an impending slide in U.S. global competitiveness, caused by negligence on the part of our political leaders to adequately invest in scientific research, improve our education system, and allow the best and brightest from around the world to work in the United States."

"AeA was proud to have been instrumental in promoting legislation that became the America Competes Act, which overwhelmingly passed through Congress and was signed into law in August 2007," concluded Hansen. "This Act offers a number of creative solutions for reinvesting in research and education. But the bill only authorized these measures - no funding was provided for this legislation. We call on policymakers to fully fund the America Competes Act in 2008."

On a state-by-state basis, Cyberstates 2008 shows that 48 cyberstates added jobs in 2006, the most recent data available. California led the nation, adding 21,400 net jobs. The next largest net gains in tech employment between 2005 and 2006 occurred in Texas (+13,700) and Virginia (+ 9,800). Rounding out the top five were New Jersey (+8,500) and New Mexico (+6,700).

For the second straight year, Virginia led the nation in concentration of high-tech workers in 2006, with 91 high-tech workers per 1,000 private sector workers. Until 2005, Colorado had owned this distinction since 1998. Massachusetts ranked second in 2006, with 87 high-tech workers per 1,000 private sector workers. Colorado was third, with 83 tech workers per 1,000 private sector workers.

The report also found that for the second straight year, venture capital investments in the technology industry rose, adding $945 million or six percent in 2007, for a total of $16.9 billion. High tech accounts for 58 percent of all venture capital investments in the nation. R&D expenditures by high-tech companies jumped by six percent in 2005, the most recent data available, totaling $74.9 billion, 37 percent of total U.S. industry R&D expenditures.