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L.A. County Has Most High Tech Jobs in Country

By MELISSAH YANG

Los Angeles has more high-tech jobs than any other metro region in the country, including its northern neighbors in Silicon Valley, according to a report released Monday.

The county in 2013 employed more than 368,500 people in its high-tech sector, defined as businesses with a large proportion of technology-oriented jobs. The biggest high-tech segments for Los Angeles were in aerospace, wholesale production, engineering, consulting and computer software development. High tech made up 9 percent of all L.A. jobs, above employment numbers posted by manufacturing; accommodation and food services; and trade and logistics.

“Los Angeles’ tech industry is now as critical to our economy as our manufacturing and entertainment sectors – and we are outperforming New York, Boston, and Santa Clara County, in the heart of Silicon Valley,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti in statement. “If we want to keep it that way, we must ensure our workforce and our students are prepared.”

High tech contributed $58.7 billion in labor income and $108 billion to regional GDP. It also generated $21.8 billion in tax revenues for federal, state and local governments.

The 2013 report was authored by Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., a nonprofit whose mission is to attract and grow businesses for the region.

Staff reporter Melissah Yang can be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @MelissahYang for the latest in L.A. tech news.

Read the Original Article: LABusinessJournal.com