May unemployment in Oklahoma holds steady at 4 percent

Oklahoma recorded a 4 percent unemployment rate in May, the third consecutive month at the same rate.

The state labor force improved by 3,547 this month, a rate of 0.2 percent, according to figures from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission. Over the past year, Oklahoma added 24,650 to its labor force, 1.3 percent growth compared to last year.

The number of Oklahomans outside the labor force has declined by almost 28,000 when compared to May 2017.

The average time of unemployment for individuals also diminished this year. Between 2017 and 2018, the mean duration of unemployment decreased from 22.2 weeks to 19.5. Last year there were 13,600 Oklahomans who had been unemployed for more than a year, and that number is now 7,200.

The United States had an unemployment rate of 3.8 percent for May.

Despite the steady rate and improved labor force numbers, total nonfarm employment declined by 200 jobs for the month. These jobs are also referred to as “payroll employment,” and include non-farming industries.

Professional, scientific and technical services saw the largest loss of jobs for the month, losing 1,000, a 1.4 percent decrease. Retail trade saw the most improvement, gaining 1,100 jobs, for a growth of 0.6 percent.

However, the industry change is positive when comparing annual numbers. Over the past 12 months the state has added 30,500 jobs, a rate of 1.5 percent.