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Ohio Tech Bits Blog » Blog Archive » NorTech: Jobs in high-tech industries have been rising in Ohio

NorTech: Jobs in high-tech industries have been rising in Ohio

A new report from NorTech shows gains in high tech employment in northeast and all of Ohio in 2008.  The increases come despite the downturn in the economy, which has caused decreases in the number of jobs in other industries.
The data, from NorTech’s blog:

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.

Coverage of the report, from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

Representatives of other economic development organizations, including the Fund for Our Economic Future and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, said they are encouraged that public and private efforts to expand the high-tech economy are starting to pay off.
But they said more investments in research, technology commercialization and venture capital are needed to compete globally. The area also still faces challenges due to a smaller pool of people trained for high-tech jobs.
“The numbers show that our community is making the right investments and it’s beginning to pay off with good jobs,” said Brad Whitehead, president of the Fund for Our Economic Future. “Now it’s critical to ensure that our work force is prepared to meet the needs of this growing sector.”

The complete report is available here.
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