Oklahoma unemployment rate steady; slowdown projected

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma’s unemployment rate is holding steady at 3.4%, while state finance officials are projecting the economy to continue slowing in 2020.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported on Friday that the state’s 3.4% unemployment rate in December was just below the national average of 3.5%. Oklahoma’s unemployment rate has slowly increased from a rate of 3.1% last year, and state officials are projecting that the state’s economic slowdown will continue.

State Treasurer Randy McDaniel released economic projections on Friday that suggest continued weak job growth through much of 2020, due in large part to a slowdown in oil and gas activity.