High-tech jobs are an important component of the economy because high-tech workers tend to be more skilled and more highly paid than other workers. In addition, a region's future vitality is often tied to the strength of its high-tech occupations. Technology development is reinforced by the concentration of firms depending on a similar base of scientific knowledge and skilled workers. Communities with a higher proportion of high-technology firms tend to attract more such firms.

In 2018, 19% of jobs in the region were considered high-tech, clearly higher than both the state (14%) and national (10%) rates. Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester counties came in at 26%, 12% and 9%, respectively. Overall, more than 300,000 jobs in the region were considered high-tech, with the vast majority of them (241,800) located in Middlesex County. The share of tech jobs has stayed essentially level since 2010.

An industry is considered high-tech if a significantly higher share of workers engage in Research and Development and technology-intensive activities than the average of all industries. Total employment in firms classified as "high-tech" contribute to the sum of high-tech jobs reported for a community. 2019 data for this indicator are expected to be released in the third quarter of 2020.