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CompTIA Cyberstates 2020™ reveals tech’s reach

Salem, Ore. – Information technology (IT) employment in Oregon increased by more than 4,700 net new jobs in 2019, capping a decade in which the state’s tech-related labor force expanded by 40,000 workers, according to Cyberstates 2020™, the definitive guide to the U.S. tech industry, occupations and trends published annually by CompTIA, the leading trade association for the global IT industry.

Net tech employment increased by an estimated 4,737 workers in 2019, up 2.9% over 2018 and the largest number of new jobs added by any industry in the state last year.[1]

From 2010 through 2019 tech employment in Oregon grew by 31.9%. The Portland metropolitan area saw a 33.9% increase in net tech employment during the decade, adding more than 35,500 jobs.

Oregon’s tech sector contributes an estimated $26.3 billion to the state economy, just over 14% of the total. That percentage is the fifth highest in the country. Tech workers account for 8% of the state’s workforce. Oregon has 8,000 tech business establishments.

“Technology powered job growth and economic gains in the past decade in Oregon and across the county while delivering countless benefits in how we work, communicate, create and share,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA.

“Looking ahead, the need for professionals from all backgrounds to develop, support, and protect these technologies will continue to grow,” Thibodeaux added. “In these trying times it is often difficult to think beyond today, but we must remain committed to preparing the workforce of tomorrow for success in whatever the future may hold.”

Oregon ranks 23^rd nationally in net tech employment and 22^nd in the total number of jobs added last year.

“The labor market for technology professionals was extremely tight during 2019, with unemployment nationwide at historic lows throughout periods of the year,” said Tim Herbert, executive vice president for research and market intelligence at CompTIA. “This speaks to the broad-based demand for tech talent across regions, industries and employers looking to capitalize on innovation that was once in the realm of science fiction, but increasingly reality.”

In fact, positions in emerging technologies accounted for 16.1% of all tech job postings in Oregon last year.

The estimated median tech occupation wage in Oregon is $79,784, 75% higher than the median wage for all occupations in the state.

Cyberstates 2020 is based on CompTIA’s analysis of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI), Burning Glass Technologies, Hoovers and other sources.

Visit https://www.cyberstates.org/ for the latest data on the economic and employment impact of the U.S. tech industry.

About CompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5.2 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world’s 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
630-678-8468
[email protected]­
www.comptia.org