Oklahoma's unemployment rate drops in August

Oklahoma's unemployment rate dropped seven-tenths of a percent to 4.2 in August, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission Economic Research & Analysis Division reported today.

 

OESC reported a 4.9 percent unemployment rate in July. Although the August 2006 unemployment rate was 4 percent, the August 2007 figures represent a departure from the increasing rate that crept up from 4.5 percent in May, to 4.7 percent in June and 4.9 percent in July.

 

The national average is 4.6 percent.

 

Oklahoma City's unemployment rate is 4.1 percent "? a 0.6 drop from July -- and Tulsa has a 4-percent rate "? a 0.5 percent decrease from last month. Lawton is above the state average with 4.3 percent. Among the micropolitan areas, Muskogee has the state's highest unemployment rate with 5.8 percent, which is a full percentage point lower than last year.

 

Neighboring states Arkansas (5.3 percent), Missouri (5.2 percent) and Kansas (4.3 percent) outpace Oklahoma; while Texas and Louisiana have 4.1 percent rates and New Mexico a 3.8 percent rate.

 

Oklahoma City-area counties' unemployment rates:

" Canadian: 3.6 percent

" Cleveland: 3.6 percent

" Oklahoma: 4.3 percent

" Logan: 3.8 percent

" Pottawotamie: 4.5 percent

 

The data is not seasonally adjusted. - Gazette staff

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