Oklahoma jobless rate drops; new stipend to be available

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports a drop in the state’s jobless rate in May even as the numbers of initial unemployment claims and the moving average of initial claims rise.

The OESC reports a May unemployment rate of 4% on Friday, down from 4.3% in April.

Initial claims for the week ending June 12 increased by 1,680 to 10,614 and the four-week moving average of initial claims rose by 493 to 10,158.

OESC Director Shelley Zumwalt noted that the May rate is still higher than the 3.1% reported in February 2020, prior to the coronavirus pandemic.