State Still First in Electronics Employment Despite Losses

California easily remains No. 1 in electronics employment, even though it lost more electronics jobs than any other state in last year’s business slowdown, according to the American Electronics Assn.

California’s total of 586,000 electronics jobs in 1985 was more than twice that of runner-up New York, which had 222,000, the Palo Alto-based industry group said in a study based on the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

National employment in electronics fell by 50,000 to 2.54 million last year, the electronics group said. California lost 20,000 jobs.

Michigan was the biggest percentage gainer, up 15.6% to 37,000. Maryland climbed 9.3% to 59,000.

TOP 10 HIGH-TECH STATES Ranked by total industry employment

1. California 586,000 2. New York 222,000 3. Massachusetts 207,000 4. Texas 152,000 5. New Jersey 107,000 6. Florida 104,000 7. Illinois 101,000 8. Pennsylvania 87,000 9. Minnesota 78,000 10. Arizona, 61,000 North Carolina (tie)

HIGH-TECH WINNERS AND LOSERS States ranked by biggest percentage gains in high-tech employment:

State Dec. ’84 Dec. ’85 Change Michigan 32,000 37,000 +15.6% Maryland 54,000 59,000 +9.3% North Carolina 58,000 61,000 +5.2% Virginia 53,000 55,000 +3.8% Washington 27,000 28,000 +3.7%

States ranked by biggest percentage losses in high-tech employment:

State Dec. ’84 Dec. ’85 Change Illinois 113,000 101,000 -10.6% Minnesota 86,000 78,000 -9.3% Arizona 65,000 61,000 -6.2% Massachusetts 219,000 207,000 -5.5% Ohio 59,000 56,000 -5.1%

Source: American Electronics Assn.