Unemployment in Oklahoma

What do Barack Obama’s Illinois, Sarah Palin’s Alaska, John McCain’s Arizona and Joe Biden’s Delaware have in common? They all have higher unemployment rates than Oklahoma, based on figures for August. But then only five states have a lower jobless rate than Oklahoma. Illinois (7.2 percent unemployment rate) and Alaska (6.9 percent) are especially hurting. Arizona (5.6 percent) and Delaware (4.9 percent) are in better shape. The Oklahoma rate for August was pegged at 4.0 percent. Most of the states with the lowest jobless rates are small and connected to the energy sector. South Dakota has the lowest rate, 3.3 percent. Some states are having difficulty finding money to pay jobless benefits. Nationally, joblessness is the worst it’s been since just after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. In this key economic measure, though, Oklahoma is holding its own.