WASHINGTON: Oklahoma’s unemployment rate decreased slightly from 5.2 percent to 5.1 percent in November 2016, according to a report released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. The state’s rate continues to be above the national average, which was 4.6 percent in November. The state’s unemployment rate has steadily increased in the past year, according to the report. Five years ago, in November 2011, the state’s unemployment rate was 6.1 percent and the national rate was 8.6 percent. Of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, in November 2016, 59 had an unemployment rate higher than one year ago and 13 counties had a lower rate.
For November 2016, the county with the lowest unemployment rate continued to be Cimarron County, which is located in the Panhandle. The county’s rate lowered from 2.6 percent in October to 2.1 percent in November. Beaver County had the second lowest rate at 2.6 percent. The county with the highest unemployment rate was McIntosh County at 8.9 percent followed by Stephens County at 8.6 percent. The largest sectors in the state to see the largest jobs growth in November were transportation, warehousing and utilities. The three sectors added 600 jobs in November, posting the largest monthly gain, according to the commission.
The sectors with the largest growth five years ago were trade, transportation, utilities and retail, where a total of 1,300 jobs were added. Manufacturing also saw large increases in 2011, adding more than 10,400 jobs. Professional and business services posted the largest loss for November 2011 of 2,000 jobs. In November 2016 leisure and hospitality reported the largest over-the-month loss for the second month in a row with a loss of 2,400 jobs, followed by professional and business services, which lost 2,100 jobs. Manufacturing continues to post the largest declines for 2016, totaling 7,700 jobs, followed by professional and business services with a job loss of 6,300 in 2016. Education and health services claimed the largest job gain over 2016, adding more than 4,000 jobs. Per-county unemployment rates in Northwest Oklahoma decreased from 4.1 percent in October to 3.9 percent in November. Northwest Oklahoma is defined by the commission to include Enid, Ponca City, Stillwater, Guymon and Woodward. Eastern Oklahoma has the highest unemployment rates in the state with an average of 5.7 percent, a reduction from October’s 5.9 percent.
