Oklahoma jobless rate higher, but still among nation's lowest

The unemployment rate in Oklahoma rose to 5.2 percent in September, the third straight monthly increase.

 
BY DON MECOY Business Writer dmecoy@opubco.com | Published: October 19, 2012    Comment on this article Leave a comment

Oklahoma's jobless rate rose in September for the third straight month, but at 5.2 percent remains among the nation's lowest.

Oklahoma was one of just six states that registered higher unemployment rates in September, while 41 states recorded decreases and three states' rates were unchanged, the U.S. Labor Department said.

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The only states with lower unemployment rates than Oklahoma are North Dakota, 3 percent; Nebraska, 3.9 percent; and South Dakota, 4.4 percent.

The state's unemployment rate was 4.7 percent in June, 4.9 percent in July and 5.1 percent in August. Despite that recent rise, Oklahoma's jobless rate has fallen 1.1 percentage points in the past 12 months, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. In that same period, the state has added nearly 40,000 jobs.

The national unemployment rate is 7.8 percent.





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