State unemployment shows slight decrease

Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate edged down 0.1 percentage point to 5.0 percent in December, while the U.S. unemployment rate was little changed at 4.7 percent in December. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was up by 0.9 percentage point compared to December 2015.

A report from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission states that in December, statewide seasonally adjusted employment grew by 10,968 persons (0.6 percent), and unemployment fell at the same time by 1,574 persons (-1.7 percent).

Over the year, seasonally adjusted unemployment grew by 15,168 persons (+19.9 percent).

Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 3,000 jobs (0.2 percent) in December 2016. U.S. seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 156,000 (0.1 percent) in December.

Over the year, state nonfarm employment lost 5,600 jobs (-0.3 percent).

• In December, seven of Oklahoma’s supersectors added jobs as Leisure and Hospitality (+3,500 jobs) posted the largest monthly gain.
• Mining and Logging, Professional and Business Services and Other Services (-1,200 jobs) reported the largest over-the-month job loss followed by Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-600 jobs).
• Industries showing large declines in jobs over the year were Mining and Logging (-7,000 jobs) and Manufacturing (-6,200 jobs).
• Education and Health Services (+7,100 jobs) claimed the largest job gain over the year.