With 10.3% of its workforce in the industry, New Hampshire ranks seventh in the nation when it comes to tech employment, and the sector is primed to continue growing in 2021, according to a newly released report from CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association.

CompTIA’s Cyberstates 2021 report projects an increase of 1,406 in net new tech-related jobs in New Hampshire this year, a 2% growth rate that matches the national percentage.

According to CompTIA, the Granite State’s tech sector has a direct impact of $11.2 billion, accounting for 13.8% of the state’s economy. That percentage is the fifth highest among all states.

Job growth this year is expected to be led by companies hiring core IT workers in a variety of roles, including cybersecurity, data scientists, software developers and IT user support specialists. In addition, there will be demand for workers with experience and skills in emerging infrastructure and hardware, artificial intelligence, data, next-gen cybersecurity and other areas of emerging tech will continue to grow as employers across industries pursue digital transformation strategies.

At the end of 2020, net tech employment in New Hampshire totaled 71,912 workers, accounting for 10.3% of the state’s overall workforce. The estimated median wage of $85,935 for tech workers is 82% higher than the median wage for all occupations in the state. New Hampshire is home to more than 5,000 tech business establishments, the report says.

The report points out that in New Hampshire, women account for 26% of the tech workforce, the same as the national percentage. Blacks make up 2% of the state’s tech workforce (it’s 8% nationally), while representation of Hispanics is at 1% (it’s 7% nationally).

— JEFF FEINGOLD