Nevada adds 7,000 high-tech jobs over five years

SUN STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

The nation's high technology work force has grown by 1.2 million people since 1993, hitting 5 million last year, a new industry report says.

Nevada is still on the lower end of the high technology employment list. It improved from 40th to 39th in the nation with 16,495 jobs in 1,228 businesses, but the state's percentage growth was the second largest in the nation.

The report, issued by the American Electronics Association, said Nevada added 7,000 high-tech jobs, a 74 percent increase from 1993 to 1998, second only to growth by North Dakota.

From 1997 to 1998, Nevada was 13th in high-tech employment growth, increasing by 8.6 percent.

The other bright spot for Nevada in the report: the state's 84 percent increase in high-tech exports from 1997 to 1999, ranking it third behind Delaware and New Mexico.

But Nevada fell in the rankings for average high-tech wage rates, dipping from 32nd to 33rd nationwide. The average wage rate for high-tech jobs is $43,797 a year, below the national average of $58,000.

The three leading high-tech job sectors in Nevada are communication services, 7,700 jobs; data processing and information services, 2,200; and industrial electronics manufacturing, 1,900.

California boasted the most technology jobs and the greatest number created. Texas ranked second in both categories. Colorado has the highest concentration of high-tech workers -- 84 out of every 1,000.

Nevada has a concentration of 20 high-tech workers out of every 1,000.

Virginia and Georgia rounded out the top five states ranked by number of added technology jobs.

"The high-tech industry is no longer confined to Silicon Valley. ... It is now an industry whose scope, dynamism and impact extends from sea to sea," said William T. Archey, president of the American Electronics Association.

The association, together with the Nasdaq Stock Market, released the report Wednesday. It is based on Census Bureau and Labor Department statistics.

High-tech workers counted included everyone employed at companies that make technology products -- such as microchips or software -- or provide communications or computer services.

Technology's $58,000 average annual salary compares favorably with $32,000 for other private-sector work, the report said.

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