Jobless rate better in state metros

Jobless rates improved across Oklahoma and its four metro areas from January to February, according to preliminary data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor.

The preliminary statewide unemployment rate for February was 4 percent, an improvement from 4.3 percent the month prior. Oklahoma registered an unemployment rate of 4.8 percent in February 2017.

The trend is similar in the Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Enid and Lawton metro areas.

Oklahoma City'sFebruary jobless rate of 3.6 percent is a slight improvement from January's 3.8 percent. In February 2017, Oklahoma City registered an unemployment rate of 4.3 percent.

Tulsa came in at4.1 percent in February, compared to 4.4 percent in January. February 2017 unemployment in Tulsa was 5 percent.

Enid's preliminary rate is 3.7 percent for February, an improvement from the 3.8 percent rate in January. A year ago, Enid's unemployment was 4.4 percent. Enid registered the largest over-the-year percentage decrease in employment among the 313 U.S. metro areas tracked by the government, a loss of 3.8 percent.

Lawton posted the highest metro unemployment rate in Oklahoma in February at 4.2 percent. However, that is still an improvement from the January rate of 4.6 percent.

Lawton's February 2017 rate was 4.7 percent.

The national unemployment rate in January was 4.5 percent, not seasonally adjusted, down from 5.1 percent a year earlier.