SAN DIEGO SCENE
San Diego’s High-Tech Diversity Key Factor in Region’s Economic Rebound San Diego is tied with Boston and San Francisco as the regional economies with the most technology sector diversity -- a key factor in the region’s economic rebound. That’s according to research carried out by the National University System Institute for Policy Research. In a comparison of the 11 U.S. metro areas with the most physical, engineering and biological research jobs, San Diego showed the highest relative concentration for this specific technology sector. Among seven additional technology industries, San Diego tied Boston and San Francisco for most categories with concentrations above national averages. Technology sectors continue to lead the rebound in San Diego employment, seeing significant increases in employment and wage growth, the institute said. This has been evident in both direct impacts on job growth and indirect effects from spending by technology workers. San Diego’s technology oriented businesses employed an average of 142,100 workers during 2013. Payrolls totaled an estimated
$15.6 billion during the year, generating $41.4 billion in sales, and directly adding $21.5 billion to the San Diego economy. Technology industries directly contributed 12 percent of San Diego’s gross domestic product (GDP), and, in total, accounted for 22.9 percent of all economic activity. Multipliers measuring indirect and induced effects indicate a total 353,400 jobs in San Diego are traced or dependent upon local technology industries. This accounted for 27 percent or more than a quarter of all payroll jobs in the county, the institute said.
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