OCRI chief Jeffrey Dale (Darren Brown, OBJ).

Ottawa's high tech sector added more than 3,000 new jobs in the last six months, according to a semi-annual survey by the Ottawa Centre for Research and Innovation.

The survey, compiled in conjunction with the Ottawa Technology Industry Guide, shows the capital is now home to a record 1,740 high technology companies, employing 71,000 people.

The number of tech workers represents a 10.6 per cent increase in the past year.

Statistics Canada, which uses a narrower definition of the technology industry, put employment in the sector at 51,100 in May.

"The record number of new companies and the sustained growth in employment are sure signs that this city's high tech sector is on the move again," says OCRI president and CEO Jeffrey Dale.

Mr. Dale says most of the growth in jobs is coming mainly from small and medium-sized businesses, which are now more confident in their hiring.

"The job market here is growing," Mr. Dale told Ottawa Business Journal in a telephone interview.

Mr. Dale said he firmly believes the tech sector will employ more than 100,000 people by the end of 2008, a prediction he first made six months ago.

"We have the feedstock for the next Cognos, the next Corel."

He pointed out that the local tech sector doubled in size between 1993 and 1998, to 80,000 employees and 1,000 companies.

His view is also bolstered by an increasing number of companies seeking information about setting up in Ottawa. More companies outside of Canada, mainly the United States, have expressed an interest in doing business in Ottawa within the last six months than within the previous two years.

"We have a highly educated, experienced workforce; industry clusters with a worldwide reputation for excellence; and a research capacity that's second to none. That makes Ottawa an ideal place to do business."