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New Report Says 10 Percent Of Austin Works For Tech Industry

Image courtesy Andy http://www.flickr.com/photos/atmtx/
Image courtesy Andy http://www.flickr.com/photos/atmtx/

A report examining the nation's "top 60" high tech cities says Austin has 65,400 tech sector jobs. The Cybercities 2010 report was released yesterday by the TechAmerica Foundation, a non-profit affiliate of a large technology trade association.

The size of the labor force in the greater Austin metropolitan is 893,505, according to data provided by the Chamber of Commerce. TechAmerica's study is presumably only looking within Austin City Limits.

Other Austin highlights from the report:

65,400 high-tech workers in 2009 (23rd ranked) 5,800 jobs lost between 2008 and 2009 (52nd ranked) High-tech firms employed 112 of every 1,000 private sector workers in 2009 (9th ranked) High-tech workers earned an average wage of $93,200 (12th ranked), or 100 percent more than Austin’s average private sector wage A high-tech payroll of $6.1 billion in 2009 (21st ranked) 3,300 high-tech establishments in 2009 (24th ranked)

The report ranked tech cities on their overall job numbers; it was not a per capita measurement. That's why Austin was 23rd and first place New York City topped San Jose/Silicon Valley in third.

Nathan Bernier is the transportation reporter at KUT. He covers the big projects that are reshaping how we get around Austin, like the I-35 overhaul, the airport's rapid growth and the multibillion-dollar transit expansion Project Connect. He also focuses on the daily changes that affect how we walk, bike and drive around the city. Got a tip? Email him at nbernier@kut.org. Follow him on X @KUTnathan.