Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is on the rise. Numbers released by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission for May show the state’s unemployment rate rose 0.2 percentage points to 4.7 percent.
As reported by NewsOn6.com, Oklahoma’s labor forced declined by 7,000 workers in that time and the number of jobless people rose by more than 10,000.
The business sector lost 2,300 jobs in May, manufacturing lost 2,000 and transportation and utilities lost around 1,000.
The new numbers continue a trend of rising unemployment in the state. A report by KFOR.com shows January’s unemployment rate was 4.1 percent.
In May 2015, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent.
No one likes hearing about high unemployment numbers, but the new data was not all bad news.
May’s numbers bring Oklahoma equal to the national unemployment rate, even with as many jobs that have been lost in that time. The state added 3,300 jobs in the education and health services industries. The construction industry added 1,800 new workers.
Here’s hoping Summer 2016 will be hiring season in Oklahoma.
Print headline: Work slump
