Oklahoma’s Statewide Unemployment Rate Drops in September

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports that in September, Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped by one-tenth of a percentage point to 6.9 percent for the month. The national unemployment rate held steady at 9.6 percent in September.

The September 2010 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for the state was the same as that for September 2009.

In September 2010, Oklahoma’s statewide seasonally adjusted labor force and unemployment both recorded monthly losses, with the decrease in unemployment leading to improvement in the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate.

For the September-to-September period, statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment shed 640 persons.

Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment dropped 1,500 jobs (-0.1 percent) over the month in September 2010. Seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment for the United States shed 95,000 jobs (-0.1 percent) from August to September.

State nonfarm employment expanded by 26,100 jobs (+1.7 percent) when compared to September 2009.

Other employment trends include:

• In September, over-the-month losses were reported in Manufacturing (-600 jobs); Trade, Transportation and Utilities (-1,100 jobs); Educational & Health Services (-1,000 jobs); and Government (-1,700 jobs).
• Professional & Business Services (+1,200 jobs) posted the largest and only sizeable job gain for the month.
• Six of Oklahoma’s 10 statewide super-sectors recorded over-the-year gains in September, led by Professional & Business Services (+11,400 jobs).
• Government posted the state’s largest over-the-year decrease for September with an 8,600-job loss.

Source: Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Topics Oklahoma