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Share of the Hi-Tech industry in the US economy: 4.5% of the total american employment, 10.5% of its growth only

Thursday 26 May 2011, by Rose Blackburry

The Digital Economy Association shows, in 2006, nearly 3 million jobs in information and communications industry, about the same level as in 1997. Moreover, adding technologically innovative sectors such as chemistry, medicine, electronics, etc. the total share of technologically innovative industries (high tech) represents less than 5% of total existing jobs in the United States.

The low weight of the hi-tech industry in the United States is also reflected in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts which highlights that, over the 2008-2018 period, the high-tech industry will represent 10.5% of job creation in the US.

Industry
Employment 2008 (in ’000)
Employment 2018 (in ’000) - forecasts
Change
Average annual rate of change
Computer and electronic product manufacturing
1 247,7
1 006,5
-241,2
-2,1%
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
289,8
307,4
17,6
0,6%
Computer systems design and related services
1 450,3
2 106,7
656,4
3,8%
Management, scientific, and technical consulting services
1 008,9
1 844,1
835,2
6,2%
Scientific research and development services
621,7
778,9
157,2
2,3%
Software publishers
263,7
342,8
79,1
2,7%
Telecommunications
1 021,5
931,9
-89,6
-0,9%
Internet (Data processing, hosting, related services and other information services)
395,2
574,1
178,9
3,8%
Electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance
104,4
110,7
6,3
0,6%
Total "High-Tech" industries
6 403,2
8 003,1
1 599,9
2,3%
TOTAL industries
150 931,7
166 205,6
15 273,9
1,0%
Share of Hi-tech
4,2%
4,8%
10,5%