Information and Computer Technology is one of six industry clusters identified in 2004 by Gov. Rick Perry as part of his long-term, strategic job creation plan. The IT cluster was selected because of its powerful potential for future economic growth, and because it is an important contributor to the other five clusters.
The IT cluster encompasses many industry segments, including computers, software, telecommunications, and IT services. Major IT employers in Texas include Dell, Alcatel U.S.A., Texas Instruments, Nokia, Fujitsu Network Communications, Freescale Semiconductor, and Ericsson Inc.
According to the TechAmerica's (formerly AeA) Cyberstates 2010 Report, Texas ranked second nationwide in the number of high-tech workers, in high-tech employment growth, in the size of high-tech payroll, and in the number of high-tech establishments in 2008. Texas ranked second in engineering services employment, communications services employment, and semiconductor manufacturing employment in 2008.
Texas ’s high-tech industry is back on track after a national downturn following the bursting of the tech bubble in 2001. TechAmerica reports that in 2008 the average tech industry wage in the Lone Star State paid 82 percent more than the average private sector wage. Texas ranked No. 2 nationally for high-tech employment growth with 14,600 new high-tech jobs between 2007 and 2008, representing a 3 percent increase.
In June 2010, Samsung Austin Semiconductor announced a $3.6 billion investment for the expansion of its 12-inch semiconductor fabrication plant in Austin. The plant will be one of the largest in the country, will produce advanced logic devices for Samsung's LS1 business, and the company will hire an additional 500 employees. The new expansion brings Samsung's total Texas investment to over $9 billion.
In March 2007, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) received a $3.5 million in Texas Emerging Technology Fund grants to recruit Dr. Ravi Sandhu, a nationally recognized leader in cyber security. Dr. Sandhu will be the founding executive director and chief scientist of the UTSA Institute for Cyber Security Research.
Many daily activities, such as the use of electrical power, air travel, and banking, depend on secure cyber systems to operate. UTSA was the first university in Texas designated as a National Security Agency Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security by the federal government. For more than five years, UTSA has worked to build a multidimensional program to meet and overcome attacks against the nation's critical cyber infrastructure.
Computer Industry Overview
Texas Industry Facts
Firms 1,156
Establishments 1,338
Employment 98,524
Average Weekly Wage $1,656
Value Added Per Employee $284,590
Value of Shipments $47.2 billion
Total Capital Investments $3.6 billion
Sources: Texas Workforce Commission - 2009Q3 Employment & Wages, Annual Survey of Manufactures, 2008
How Texas Ranks
All Employees 2
Production Workers 2
Value Added 2
Value of Shipments 2
Total Capital Investments 2
Source: Annual Survey of Manufactures, 2008
Texas Exports
In 2009, computer and electrical equipment was Texas' largest exporting category and valued at $32 billion.
Source: WISERTrade, 2009 (NAICS 334)
Top Export Markets
Mexico $14,563,970,125
Canada $2.941,650,280
Republic of Korea $1,592,942,813
China (Mainland) $1,495,827,590
Netherlands $1,331,956,797
Source: WISERTrade, 2009 (NAICS 334)
