This isn't much of a surprise -- a lot of high-tech jobs are tied to Homeland Security, and our proximity to Washington DC makes us a prime choice. Of course, companies have a choice between Virginia and Maryland, and they seem to like us better, even with the transportation problems.
From the press release:
Virginia Poised to Surpass Colorado for First Place by Concentration of Tech Workers
...
Virginia's high-tech industry employment grew by 9,100 net jobs, to 253,300 in 2004, the most current state data available. A significant part of this job growth occurred in Virginia’s largest technology sector, computer systems design and related services, which gained 6,600 jobs between 2003 and 2004. Virginia ranked 2nd by computer systems design and related services employment nationwide.
Virginia ranked second in the country in terms of high-tech concentration of jobs with 88.6 of every 1,000 private sector employees working in the tech industry, only slightly behind Colorado at 88.7."
The high-tech industry is booming in Virginia,” said Gregory Poersch, Executive Director of the AeA Potomac Council. "Tech jobs, wages, and exports are all on the rise. Venture capital investments jumped by 38 percent in 2005. If these trends continue, next year Virginia will become the state with the highest concentration of tech workers in the nation."
Virginia’s rapid tech job growth is positive for the state’s economy, as tech industry jobs in Virginia pay nearly twice as much as the average private sector wage.
Of course, the number of jobs involved is a very small percentage of the total employment of Virginia.
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