Brunell Sees High Tech Growth

Don Brunell, president of the Association of Washington Business, cites a recent technology report as a bright spot in a bleak economy. In his column in today's Columbian, Brunell writes that Washington's strong tech sector gives the state an edge in the tech recovery.

The IDC study found that IT spending in the United States will reach $488 billion in 2009 and will increase over the next several years at a rate almost five times faster than our national GDP.

Washington's strength is clear.

...The Washington Technology Industry Association represents more than 1,000 member companies with more than 100,000 employees in the state — most of them in the IT sector. According to state employment figures, the IT sector pays out $10.5 billion a year in salaries to more than 86,000 employees. These are well-paying jobs in careers fed by strong higher education programs.

... if we are careful, we in Washington have the tools to emerge from this recession ahead of other states. But to maintain that advantage, we must ensure that our regulatory and tax policies support our existing IT sector and encourage its growth.

Read the whole column. Then, maybe re-read it. Good news is hard to find.