High-Technology Occupations
Description:
Occupational data are more useful than industrial data in identifying certain types of activity, such as high technology, that are related to innovation. Employment shares that are above average in highly skilled, highly paid occupations indicate that a workforce is positioned to make innovative advances. Geographic areas with below-market wages in these occupations will have a more difficult time attracting workers or firms.
Occupational employment and wage data are collected annually via a survey of employers; only wage and salary employees are included. The survey is conducted semiannually on a three-year cycle, with one-third of the survey data collected each year. The latest data from May 2009 include information collected during late 2006, 2007, 2008, and early 2009.
Of the 22 defined occupational groups, those most closely related to high technology and innovation are computer and mathematical; architecture and engineering; and life, physical, and social sciences. On Arizona Indicators, employment in each of these groups is expressed as the share of total wage and salary employment in Arizona. The difference from the national average share also is shown. The median wage in each of these groups is displayed both as a share of the overall Arizona median and as a share of the national average for each group.
Data Source:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Survey: http://www.bls.gov/oes/. About half-way down the page under “Current Tables” select “National Cross-Industry” for the national data and “State Cross-Industry” for Arizona data. The data are released 17 months after the end of a year. The Arizona data also are available from the Arizona Department of Commerce at http://www.workforce.az.gov/?PAGEID=67&SUBID=160. The “Occupational Employment Statistics” are at the bottom of the page.
Data Quality Comments:
The data are subject to sampling error. Because of the sample design, comparisons over time are best made using three-year intervals.
High-Technology Employment as a Percentage of Total Employment, as Defined by Occupational Group
Visualization Notes:
As defined by occupational group, high-technology employment as a share of total employment has not changed much in Arizona since 2001, with a decline in engineering partially offset by marginal increases in the computer and science occupational groups.
High-Technology Employment as a Percentage of Total Employment, Arizona Less the United States, as Defined by Occupational Group
Visualization Notes:
As defined by occupational group, high-technology employment as a share of total employment has declined slightly in Arizona since 2001 but has increased nationally. Arizona’s high-tech share has fallen from above to marginally below the U.S. average. Arizona has lagged behind the nation in the computer and engineering occupational groups.
Median Wage by Occupational Group in Arizona as a Percentage of the Total Median Wage
Visualization Notes:
The median wage in high-tech occupational groups is far higher than the overall median wage in Arizona. Not much change has occurred over time in any of the groups relative to the overall median.
Median Wage by Occupational Group in Arizona as a Percentage of the National Average
Visualization Notes:
Though the median wage in high-tech occupational groups is far higher than the overall median in Arizona, the median in each group is less than the national median for the group. Some relative decline has occurred in Arizona since 2001 in the computer and science groups.
Data Source
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Survey: http://www.bls.gov/oes/. About half-way down the page under “Current Tables” select “National Cross-Industry” for the national data and “State Cross-Industry” for Arizona data. The data are released 17 months after the end of a year. The Arizona data also are available from the Arizona Department of Commerce at http://www.workforce.az.gov/?PAGEID=67&SUBID=160. The “Occupational Employment Statistics” are at the bottom of the page.
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