Jobless rate increases

The unemployment rate in Oklahoma City rose from 3.6 percent to 3.9 percent in February.

Oklahoma City’s unemployment rate rose 0.3 of a percent in February to 3.9 percent, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Unemployment in Oklahoma City was 0.1 of a percent higher in February than one year ago.

Despite continued job losses in the energy sector, Oklahoma City still gained 5,900 jobs in February over the previous month, a 0.9 percent gain, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

Oklahoma City shed 800 energy sector jobs over the month, a 4.5 percent decline. For the 12-month period ending in February, Oklahoma City lost 4,200 energy sector jobs, a 19.9 percent decline.

Manufacturing also saw losses in February, shedding 900 jobs, a 2.4 percent decline.

The losses were buoyed by increases in the government sector, which gained 4,400 jobs in February, a 3.5 percent increase, as well as the education and health services sector, which gained 1,800 jobs for the month, a 2 percent increase.

Across Oklahoma, unemployment rates rose in 68 of the state’s 77 counties in February.

McIntosh County in southeast Oklahoma had the highest unemployment rate among counties at 8.7 percent in February. Cimarron County in the Oklahoma Panhandle posted the lowest county unemployment rate of 2.4 percent for the month.