2023 is here, and we’re already halfway through January. Now is the perfect time to reflect on the tech industry in 2022 and 2023, through the lens of some interesting metrics…and maybe compare those numbers to some other fun facts for a little perspective.

What do the global tech market and peanut butter have in common?

The United States accounts for about 35% of the global tech market. That’s just two percentage points more than the 33% chance a peanut grown in the U.S. will end up as peanut butter. And it’s the same percentage of people who yell at something on T.V. while watching it.

The number of tech companies is right on your keyboard.

There are more than 585,000 tech companies in the United States. That’s about the same number of people in the world who hit the spacebar at the same time as you do, whenever you do (600,000). The space bar is also the most used key, comprising 18% of keyboard hits.

Can you measure the Earth’s circumference in net worth?

Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook are collectively worth $4 trillion. If the net worth of these four horsemen was turned into one dollar bills, they would stretch around the circumference of planet Earth, almost 11 times, for a grand total of 271,464 miles.

How are cybersecurity and car seats related?

Around 84% of businesses say that security and resilience was a top priority in 2022. Yikes! That’s one less percentage point than the number of parents using child car safety seats incorrectly, and the same percentage of global phone calls conducted in English (85%).

Big data and consumer browsing patterns.

About 90% of the world’s data has been created since 2019. That’s the same percentage of consumers who watch videos on their mobile devices, and the same percentage of brands posting videos to YouTube at least once a week.

What do tech employment, donuts, and laundry have in common?

Tech employment accounts for about 7.9% of the total U.S. workforce. That’s about the same 8% of trainees at Dunkin Donuts who don’t make it past the six-week training, and the same percentage of married men who say they’re better at doing laundry than their spouse.

Artificial Intelligence and communication.

Almost 92% of Fortune 1000 companies have plans to invest more in big data and AI. That’s about the same percentage of all the scientists who have ever lived who are alive today (90%). And it's the same percentage of communication that’s nonverbal, according to some studies.

Big salaries and online dating.

Tech employees average 85% more income than those in other industries; in some areas like Silicon Valley they may earn 507% more, while in Wyoming they earn roughly 32% more. That’s the same percentage of polled singles (32%) who believe they’ll meet the one online.

Africa, South America, and your next move.

The tech industry is dominated by North America, Asia, and Europe, with the remaining 11% taken by South America and Africa. That percentage is the same number of times the average person changes their residence over the course of their life (an average of 11).

Boston’s tech triangle, coupons, and farmland.

Massachusetts has the highest concentration of tech workers at 6% of the population. That’s the same percentage of printed coupons that get redeemed, and the same amount of land on the planet that’s suitable for farming.

What stats will you create in 2023?

It’s certainly fun to compare these software stats to some of the zany and fun facts that are out there about just about everything. But additionally, these stats indicate that the overall outlook for tech and software in 2023 is optimistic. After all, software makes the world go round, from P2P to interactions to B2C and B2B relationships.

What are your plans for 2023? While some software sales professionals will stay at the same company, others will look for a new place to break old records and create some new stats of their own. If making a move in 2023 is on your radar, send an email to mike@michaelblair.com and let’s discuss your goals.

Alternatively, if you are looking to hire pre-vetted, experienced candidates, send me an email as well! As a software sales recruiter with almost four decades in the industry, I am well positioned to help job seekers and hiring managers.

Let’s see what 2023 brings the world in terms of software stats, and what fun numbers they can be compared to. Software statistics were provided by Comptia and Zippia.