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The number of IT jobs Phoenix has to offer is continuing to grow, thanks in part to a local technology organization.

Science Foundation Arizona recently released "Measuring Up 2011," a report on the progress of the organization and the state's technology industry, which found that SFA is succeeding in bringing much-needed tech jobs and revenue to Arizona.

The report found that between 2007 and 2009, SFA awarded more than 140 individual grants totaling almost $120 million, including 101 research grants worth about $80 million and 41 education grants worth about $37 million.

The research-based grants alone led to the creation of 1,151 jobs and 16 technology companies throughout Arizona. The funding also resulted in the filing or issue of 84 patents and 11 technology licenses.

The education-based grants have supported science, technology, engineering, and math programs for K-12 students and teachers. A total of 160,000 students, 2,900 teachers, and 223 graduate research fellows have participated in those programs.

The report further found that every dollar SFA awards to an education or research institution results in an additional $3.06 in industry-matching and non-state research funding, including venture capital, federal grant awards, and nonprofit funding.

Other key findings of the report include:

• Arizona had about 156,000 technology employees in 2009.
  
• Technology employees earn an average salary of more than $76,000.
• The state's technology industry only decreased by 6.4 percent during the economic downturn.
• Employment in aerospace and defense grew by 8.1 percent during the recession.
• The state's biosciences sector saw employment increase by 7 percent over the two-year period.
• Aerospace and defense and biosciences account for one of every three technology jobs in Arizona.
• Advanced manufacturing employment dropped by 24 percent during the downturn.
• Employment in computer hardware decreased by 16 percent during the recession.

Labels: IT jobs Phoenix