The high-tech industry is an important and dynamic part of Oregon's economy. During the late 1990s, it experienced rapid employment growth while paying wages that were significantly higher than those of other industries. In 2006, high tech contributed $4.8 billion in covered payroll to the state's workers and families. The industry represents slightly more than one-third of all manufacturing payroll, predominately in semiconductor manufacturing.

As of September 2007, the state's high-tech industry employed 58,900 people.

What is High Tech?

The high-tech industry is not an official industry sector with one definition or official government code. Instead, it is a mix of service and manufacturing businesses from a variety of industries. Hightech means different things to different people and organizations. In Region 2 a number of industry associations represent the various facets of High Tech Manufacturing in an effort to identify shared training needs.