Purpose: The main aim of this paper is to test the ways in which the role of high-technology services (HTS) in the economy of European Union (EU) member countries changes and the extent to which the development of HTS depends on the quality of human resources. Design/methodology/approach: The paper adopts comparative and cluster analysis of statistical data published by Eurostat. Findings: The empirical analysis approved the growing proportion of HTS in both employment and gross value added in the EU as a whole. However, there are great differences among individual member states that can be grouped into four clusters. HTS have a significantly higher proportion of tertiary educated employees, belong to young sectors and show a higher rate of participation in continuing education. HTS development is closely related to information communications technology (ICT) literacy of the population of the country, on the one hand, and on its economic standards, on the other. Research limitations/implications: The major findings constitute a starting-point for more thorough national analysis and for setting measures supporting HTS development, especially through the availability of an appropriately educated labour force. Practical implications: The growing proportion of HTS in the economy is an important feature of knowledge economies; therefore it is necessary for politicians to have information about the development of this sector. Originality/value: HTS has been little researched in a detailed way to date. This paper tries to indicate all the important features that should be further and more deeply analysed. (Contains 12 figures, 2 tables and 1 note.)