Report shows most U.S. cities lost hi-tech jobs in 2009

Fifty-three of the country's top 60 metro areas lost hi-tech jobs last year due to the recession, according to a new TechAmerica Foundation report.

"Most of the metro areas we examined lost tech jobs in 2009 as the full force of the economic downturn hit the industry,” said Josh James, vice president of research and industry analysis at TechAmerica Foundation. James emphasized the jobs lost were highly desirable with an average salary in excess of $100,000 in cities like Washington and San Francisco. “These are the types of jobs every city wants. They are very well-paid, with 57 of the 60 cybercities having average tech industry wages that are 50 percent higher than the average private sector wage," he added. TechAmerica Foundation chair Phillip Bond said cities will have to focus on how to attract and retain hi-tech workers and firms or face the possibility of them moving abroad.