CompTIA Cyberstates™ 2018 report shows tech sector contributes $4.5 billion to state’s economy
Little Rock, Ark. – Technology-related employment in Arkansas held steady in 2017, but the tech industry increased its impact on the state’s economy, according to Cyberstates™ 2018, the definitive annual analysis of the nation’s tech industry published today by CompTIA, the world’s leading technology industry association.
The tech sector is responsible for an estimated 4 percent of the overall state economy, or $4.5 billion. That’s up from 3.3 percent and $3.9 billion in the previous year.
Arkansas is home to nearly 3,300 tech business establishments.
With 59,400 tech workers, Arkansas ranks 38th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia in net tech employment.[1] That’s up one spot from last year. Tech workers make up 4.4 percent of the state’s total workforce. The average tech industry wage in Arkansas is $71,420; 68 percent higher than the state’s average annual private sector wage of $42,470.
The state ranks 8th nationally in the gender makeup of its tech occupation population, with 76.4 percent of the workers men and 23.7 percent, women. Nationally, the breakdown is 78 percent men and 22 percent women.
Arkansas saw a 29.3 percent increase from 2016 to 2017 in the number of job postings related to emerging technologies – such as the Internet of Things, smart cities, drones, artificial intelligence, machine learning, virtual reality and augmented reality, and blockchain. While these positions accounted for a small percentage of total tech job postings, it’s an indication where organizations are headed with the technology investments.
The strongest year-over-year job growth occurred in the categories of packaged software (+ 5.7 percent) and IT services and custom software services (+ 3.7 percent).
Cyberstates 2018 (#cyberstates) is based on CompTIA’s analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, EMSI, Burning Glass Technologies Labor Insights, and other sources. Estimates for 2017 are subject to change as government data is revised and updated. The complete Cyberstates 2018 report, with complete national, state and metropolitan level data, is available at http://www.cyberstates.org/
About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the technology professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the global economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more.
Contact:
Steven Ostrowski
CompTIA
[email protected]
630-678-8468
[1] Net tech employment includes tech industry workers in technical and non-technical positions, technical workers in other industries and self-employed technology workers.
Steve Ostrowski
Senior Director, Corporate Communications
(630) 678 - 8468
[email protected]
Roger Hughlett
Director, Corporate Communications
(202) 503 - 3644
[email protected]
Follow us on social media to keep up to date on CompTIA.
Download CompTIA logos and assets from our press releases to use in your article or write-up.
Access Now