This morning the Software Association of Oregon (SAO) issued a press release and announced the availability of an economic impact report. I've been involved in starting and running software companies in Oregon for over 21 years now. I love it here. Many others do too. Intel, based in Santa Clara, CA, has more employees here than anywhere else in the world - and a large percentage are software folks.
This is a GREAT place to start a software company of any kind. There are significant resources and talent in engineering, sales, marketing, and more. However, there is not a lot of access to capital, so you'll have to plan on a lot of travel to raise early rounds(but that's another story.)
I am chairman of our association's advocacy committee, and serve on the executive committee, and know that with the SAO's new leadership, market opportunities, and strong support infrastructure our state offers, I am really looking forward to 2007. This will be a big year for the SAO and for software companies in Oregon. I can feel it.
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OREGON’S SOFTWARE INDUSTRY MAKES STRONG GAINS; FURTHER JOB GROWTH FORECAST IN NEW STUDY
PORTLAND, Ore.—February 8, 2007 - Oregon’s software industry experienced employment gains of more than 11 percent in the two-year period ended in 2005 and is positioned for even greater job growth over the next decade according to an economic impact analysis released today by the Software Association of Oregon (SAO).
In 2006 SAO retained the respected consulting firm of ECONortwest to measure the economic contributions of the software industry to the Oregon economy through 2005. Included in the findings of the study are the following:
- In 2005 the software industry generated over 51,700 jobs in Oregon. These jobs produced a direct economic impact of $9.2 billion to Oregon’s economy, including $3.2 billion in personal income, and generated more than $834 million in state and local tax revenues.
- Employment in the ten software and computer-related professions profiled in the study is expected to grow by approximately 18.7 percent through 2014, faster than the overall employment growth rate projected for Oregon across all occupations in the same time period. Importantly, only software and computer-related professions and health care related professions are expected to have growth openings that exceed the number of replacement openings over the next decade.
- Improved or very improved business conditions were reported by 62 percent of SAO members who were surveyed for the study and 44 percent of respondents expect to see stronger or much stronger hiring in the next year.
SAO president, Harvey Mathews, detailed the findings at a press conference held at the Oregon State Capitol February 8th, where Mr. Mathews also addressed SAO’s advocacy agenda before the current session of the Oregon Legislature.
“The findings of the economic impact analysis confirm what SAO members have long assumed: software and technology companies are key drivers of the Oregon economy,”, Mr. Mathews said. “When the economic impact of the software and technology industry is fully considered, it is obvious that the continued prosperity of our state is heavily tied to the success of our member companies.
“Despite what you may read about software jobs being shipped overseas, the data clearly shows that, to the contrary, we are one of the fastest growing sectors in Oregon’s economy. This industry imports wealth that ripples through Oregon’s economy, creating many other jobs as a byproduct.”
“We intend to be active in the current session of the Legislature and on an on-going basis with policy makers across a range of subjects, but particularly to encourage creativity and thoughtfulness in how Oregon invests in its educational system and economic development programs,” added Mr. Mathews. "We want legislators to keep in mind the impacts their policy decisions can have on software companies and the industry as a whole."
The economic impact analysis was made possible in part through a grant from the Oregon Economic and Community Development Department and the support of SAO members. The report can be viewed on line at www.sao.org.
ABOUT SAO: SAO is Oregon’s largest and only locally headquartered technology trade association, based in Portland, serving over 500 member companies located throughout the state. SAO's mission is to sustain a healthy and strong software industry cluster in Oregon by: Helping companies start, creating an environment where companies and entrepreneurs want to move, and supporting company growth.
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