WASHINGTON: Oklahoma’s unemployment rates have hovered around 4.1 since November 2015 until February 2016 when rates increased, according to the report.
Of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, 50 have unemployment rates higher than a year earlier, 19 counties have a lower rate and eight counties have an unchanged rate. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment contracted 2,100 less jobs since the beginning of the year. Certain job sectors continued to see losses, including mining and logging, which reported a loss of 2,200 jobs since March.
Since April 2015, the sector has lost 11,700 jobs, about 21 percent of the job market. Mining and logging continues to report the largest over-the month and over-the-year job loss. Construction and manufacturing jobs also decreased in April by 800 jobs. The trade, transportation and utility job sector lost 1,700 jobs, less than a one percent change since March. The sector had no change in employment numbers since April 2015.
Professional and business services positions increased by 1,500 jobs along with leisure and hospitality positions, which also increased by 1,500 jobs. The two sectors were the only sectors to have an increase greater than 300 jobs. Leisure and hospitality continues to claim the largest job gain over the year, according to the release.
Government jobs increased by 100 employees. Per county unemployment rates in Northwest Oklahoma varied as rates in central and northeast Oklahoma continued to decline. Eastern Oklahoma continues to have the highest unemployment rates in the state with Stephens County holding the highest rate in Oklahoma with 8.4 percent. Northwest Oklahoma’s unemployment rate decreased from 4.0 to 3.8 percent in April, according to the report, while eastern Oklahoma’s rate was 5.0 percent.
Garfield County’s unemployment rate decrease by one point to 4.0 percent for April. In April 2015, the county’s rate was 3.5 percent. Garfield County dropped by three places to No. 25 of 77 counties in the state for its unemployment rate. Cimarron County, in the western Panhandle, continues to have the lowest unemployment rate in the state with 2.2 percent.
