The Wireless Industry State by State

By Tracy Ford

The promise to build 5G networks across the nation is that the networks would enable incredible transformations across multiple industries. Telemedicine, self-driving cars and industrial automation are initiatives that are happening in real-time today. But even going back to first-generation wireless networks, the companies that construct these networks have impacted the economies of the communities where they are working.

Nationwide, the wireless industry supports more than 4.7 million jobs; contributes $475 billion to the U.S. economy and is expected to invest $275 billion over seven years.

Do you want to see how the wireless industry is impacting your state? WIA has compiled a state-by-state level look at the number of jobs created by the wireless industry, Gross Domestic Product growth from the wireless ecosystem at the state level, as well as the estimated 5G network investment. Because more than 50% of households have cut the cord on traditional landline telephony, the infographics also include the percentage of households that rely exclusively on wireless telephones to communicate.

For example, in Arizona, the wireless industry has created nearly 40,000 jobs and nearly 65% of households rely only wireless for communications. In contrast, Massachusetts counts more than 16,000 jobs but only 39% of households have cut the cord. However, Oregon counts more than 15,000 jobs, similar to Massachusetts, but has a cord-cutting rate closer to Arizona at 64%.

Here is a look at the wireless industry impact at the state level.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming