Oklahoma Job Gains Will Help City's Economic Condition

Recent reports indicate that Oklahoma's job market is seeing a boost in hiring. It could not have come at a better time. In November of 2011, 75 of the state's 77 counties saw a drop in unemployment. The state and federal job numbers indicate positive growth in the region and that's a good sign for the economy of Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

Jobless Rate Good News

When it comes to Oklahoma City's jobless rate, the numbers are positive. The jobless rate for the area, which includes the surrounding region, fell to 5.5 percent. That is down from 5.8 percent it was in October. In November of 2011, the rate was 6.3 percent. Other area cities also saw improvements, with Lawton and Tulsa showing unemployment at 6.4 percent, down from 7.5 percent the previous month.

According to Lynn Gray who works with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the news is good. She is quoted as saying, "This was the best gain in employment for November that Oklahoma City has seen since before the recession." More so, the city has seen improvements in nine of the last ten months. This also helps to indicate that there is evidence that, as a whole, the Oklahoma City job market and labor conditions are improving in the city.

However, some experts say that the numbers are not as clear as they should be. Some note that some people have job out of the labor market (as they are not actively searching for a job.) If those individuals came back into the market, it could put pressure on the unemployment figures.