California is the best place in the USA to head for a job in technology, according to a comprehensive report into the high-tech industry.
Conducted by the American Electronics Association (AeA), the study reveals that nearly 150,000 new vacancies were opened up for people to work in the US technology sector during 2006, which compares to the 87,400 jobs added in the previous year.
The tenth annual ‘Cyberstates’ report indicates that high-tech American companies employed 5.8 million people last year, with approximately one in six based in California.
“This is the second year in a row that tech industry employment has added jobs,” said AeA president and chief executive William Archey, noting that most positions also “pay extremely well”.
Mr Archey added that the statistics are probably conservative estimates of the size of America’s technology industry.
“We probably underestimate the size of the industry to a slight degree,” he said.
The most populated state in the US - and home to Silicon Valley - boasts more than twice as many high-tech workers as the next best performer, Texas.
Software is proving to be the strongest subcategory at present for technology experts looking to work in the USA, with an extra 88,500 new positions added in 2006 and a total of 1.5 million roles nationwide.
Using data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, AeA also found that Florida is emerging as the fastest growth area for technology employment in the States.
