Metro Denver EDC issues annual look at area’s industries
The fifth annual study of metro Denver’s ranking in seven industry clusters, released Thursday by the Metro Denver Economic Development Corp., concludes that the region offers a diversified economy and the nation’s second-most highly educated workforce.
The report, available here, was completed by the Patty Silverstein of Development Research Partners. It looks at seven major industries in the nine-county Metro Denver and Northern Colorado region: aerospace, aviation, bioscience, broadcasting and telecommunications, energy, financial services, and information technology-software.
Among the key findings:
• Aerospace — The Denver area ranks first among the 50 largest metro regions nationwide for the total number of aerospace employees of non-governmental companies. The region has 19,870 people employed at aerospace companies. Colorado has the nation’s third-largest aerospace economy and is home to four military commands, eight major space contractors, and more than 300 aerospace companies and suppliers.
• Aviation — Denver International Airport, three reliever airports, and top aircraft manufacturing companies create a solid foundation for 15,690 workers directly employed by aviation companies.
• Bioscience — Ten local higher education institutions with bioscience programs and numerous research assets support the region’s bioscience industry. The industry also is helped by the collaborative opportunities at the Fitzsimons Life Science District and the adjacent Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora.
• Broadcasting & Telecommunications — Metro Denver’s Mountain Time Zone location makes it the largest U.S. region with one-bounce satellite uplinks, providing companies real-time connects to six of seven continents. With a broad mix of broadcasting and telecommunications firms, the region ranks fourth out of the 50 largest metros for employment concentration.
• Energy — The integration of cleantech and the state’s rich energy resource base place the region at the forefront of energy development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden is the Department of Energy’s laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development.
• Financial Services — The region is one of the few areas outside of the Northeast with a substantial financial services industry in three key market segments. A variety of trade associations and service firms supports the diverse financial services industry base of over 11,930 companies and 93,950 employees in the region.
• Information Technology - Software -— Colorado has the third-highest concentration of high-tech workers per capita in the nation according to TechAmerica’s Cyberstates 2009 report. A strong entrepreneurial spirit fuels this industry, employing nearly 42,300 workers.
Filed under: business by Guru