Technology jobs in the United States increased by 118,500, or 2 percent, in the first half of 2007, according to a report released by the American Electronics Association. High-tech jobs now total 5.94 million, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reported.

However, the gain is slightly less than the 143,000 technology positions added in the first half of last year and less than the 3.3 percent overall job growth in the private sector in the first half of 2007.

Technology manufacturers added 1,800 jobs, a 0.1 percent increase, high-tech services employment increased by 116,600 jobs, a 2.6 percent rise, software services added 51,100 jobs, a 3.3 percent rise, and communications services increased by 12,900 jobs, or 1 percent.

Technology positions pay wages that are 86 percent higher than the average private-sector wage, according to the association’s president and CEO, William Archey.