High Tech and Latin AmericaHigh Tech and Latin America

Per my Costa Rica post below, Cisco is highlighting a survey indicating a growing demand for IT professionals in Latin America. Cisco worked with IDC to develop the data.

Per my Costa Rica post below, Cisco is highlighting a survey indicating a growing demand for IT professionals in Latin America. Cisco worked with IDC to develop the data.On the same score, Matt Brunk sent me a link to some Costa Rica-specific data. If you scroll down to #16 at the linked page, you'll find "Structure of Trade," which shows how far the country has come: In 1990, high-tech exports represented essentially no portion of Costa Rica's exports, while in 2005, this had shot up to 38%. That puts Costa Rica ahead of such high-tech powerhouses as Israel, Japan, the UK and the U.S.

Of course, laws of large numbers apply: The bigger and more diverse the economy, the lower the high-tech percentage is likely to be, even where high-tech is very large in absolute terms. It's worth noting that smaller countries such as Cyprus and Malta are nearing or above the 50% mark for high-tech as a share of all exports.

Nevertheless, it's clear that high-tech is making real progress in Latin America, and that one of the region's big challenges will be keeping up with the demand in the labor market.