Technology report finds Illinois makes gains
Illinois' technology industry is rising like the Phoenix, arising from the ashes to produce more jobs and more tech-related companies that settle here, a report is expected to say today.
AeA, formerly known as the American Electronics Association, will release its 11th annual Cyberstates report today that shows Illinois' high-tech industry added 3,600 net jobs in 2006. The state employed 209,300 tech workers in 2006, the most current state data available.
Job gains were mostly in the computer systems design and related services sector, which added 3,700 net jobs. Engineering services followed with a gain of 1,200 net jobs.
These sectors offset losses concentrated in telecommunications services (down 1,500 jobs), electronic components manufacturing (down 600), and communications equipment manufacturing (down 600 jobs), the report said.
"Illinois tripled its net growth in jobs over the previous year, which is a testament to the diverse and innovative technology economy in our state," said Ed Longanecker, executive director of AeA Midwest Council. He said there are many tech job openings now.
Despite this positive growth and momentum, companies still struggle with finding enough local technology talent to keep up with demand.
"There is further evidence of the tightening technology job market with the 1 percent national unemployment rate for electrical engineers. This challenge is not unique to Illinois," he said.
Another positive trend is the increase of 727 technology establishments in Illinois, to an impressive total of 16,107, ranking Illinois fifth in the country, Longanecker said.
"This means new companies and industries are emerging, and that companies are choosing Illinois to expand their operations," he said.
Longanecker also said the industry continues to expand, innovate and create new industries, products and high-quality jobs.
Joseph Beatty, chief executive officer of Chicago-based Telular, was happy to see the good news of the report.
"This was the second year in row that Illinois gained in technology jobs and, very selfishly as a CEO of a manufacturer of electronics, I was pleased to see that Illinois remained No. 4 nationally in terms of communications equipment jobs."
The report, "Cyberstates 2008: A Complete State-by-State Overview of the High-Technology Industry," covers the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Nationally, the report shows the high-tech industry added jobs for the third consecutive year. Tech industry employment totaled 5.9 million, after adding 91,400 jobs in 2007.