The U.S. high-tech industry added nearly 100,000 jobs between January and June this year, showing a 1.7% gain during that period, according to the latest report from the TechAmerica Foundation. The report looks at four sectors — tech manufacturing, communications services, software services, and engineering and tech services — and it found job growth in three of the four sectors.
"The technology industry is adding jobs as new innovations are helping to propel the tech industry forward," said Matthew Kazmierczak, senior vice president of TechAmerica. "Tech employment as of June 2012 stood at nearly 6 million, compared to 5.8 million just 18 months ago." The growth during the 18-month period represents an increase of 3.3%.
Technology employment grew in software services (+50,800), engineering and tech services (+49,900), and technology manufacturing (+9,200) during the first half of 2012. The communications services industry experienced a decline of about 10,700 net jobs during the same period, as the wired telecommunications industry continues to adjust to changing market conditions.
"A strong and vibrant technology industry is critical to supporting an economic recovery and, while the tech industry has weathered the downturn better than most, we can't take its strength for granted," said Jennifer Kerber, TechAmerica's president. "Global economic and market forces continue to put the technology industry in a position of intense competition — a competition for innovation, where labor and intellectual property provide the foundation for growth. America can only realize the full promise of an innovation economy with smarter public policies focused on developing and attracting the best talent, investing in research and development, and growing and securing our information infrastructure."
