09 Jun Directory shows growth in high-tech sector despite economy
Madison – Despite the continued slow economy throughout 2008, Dane County’s technology industries continued to add to their ranks at a steady pace and combined to generate nine percent more revenue in 2008, according to the 2009 Greater Madison, Wisconsin Area Directory of High-Tech Companies published by Madison Gas & Electric Co.
The directory lists more than 575 firms (466 high-tech businesses profiled in the directory) with reported combined revenues of more than $6.5 billion. During the last five years, the survey found high-tech employment has grown by approximately 4,000, or 15%. And the number of high-tech firms grew 25% for the same period. Of the 575 technology firms, about 30 percent are in manufacturing and the rest are service companies.
Steady employment increases in these firms have helped the diversify the area’s economy. Because the Madison area high-tech firms provide products and services for a wide variety of customers, employment increases in the s sector have been steady and haven contributed significantly to the region’s economy. Nearly 10 percent of the region’s total employment (30,000 jobs) is in the high-tech area.
Originally published to showcase the array of high-tech companies in the greater Madison area, the directory has become a resource for companies seeking new locations, collaborative partners, or investors seeking investment opportunities.