FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

Date: Thursday, December 26, 2002

STATEWIDE PRELIMINARY November 2002 
NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT statistics
AND LABOR FORCE/UNEMPLOYMENT RATE

This report is produced by the Economic Research and Analysis division of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission as a free service to the Oklahoma community. All of the information contained within is available free of charge at the OESC website (www.oesc.state.ok.us) and through publications developed by the Economic Research and Analysis division.

Please be aware that unless otherwise noted, all statistics contained within are preliminary statistics and have not been adjusted for seasonal factors. All data is collected under strict guidelines provided by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The mission of the OESC Economic Research and Analysis division is to develop, refine and manage a comprehensive system of state and local labor market information. Any individual and/or organization needing to track the economic health of the State of Oklahoma and its local areas may access this information. This customer base includes, but is not limited to, job seekers, employers, economic development entities, students, occupational and educational planners, labor organizations and all levels of government. Labor market information can be used for economic, education, labor force and fiscal planning, as well as serving as a valuable tool for marketing, research and individual career planning.

HOLIDAY SHOPPING SETS STAGE FOR STATE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH 

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

TOTAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT for the state of Oklahoma reached 1,535,000 jobs in November 2002 with the addition of 5,700 jobs into the Oklahoma workforce. Job gains in Service Producing Industries, namely Retail Trade, offset job losses in the Goods Producing Industries for the fourth consecutive month. Over the year, the Oklahoma workforce has grown by 0.5 percent (+7,500 jobs). Other highlights include:

·        Trade reported job gains of 5,500 jobs (+1.6 percent) in November due to seasonal hiring in Retail Trade for the holiday shopping season. Substantial gains were also reported in General Merchandise Stores (+2,400 jobs), Apparel & Accessory (+1,400 jobs) and Miscellaneous Retail (+1,100 jobs). Compared to last year, this major division has grown by 1,200 jobs (+0.3 percent).

·        TOTAL GOVERNMENT added 1,800 jobs (+0.6 percent) in November 2002. State Government accounted for a gain of 1,500 jobs, followed by Local Government (+500 jobs). Federal Government declined by 200 jobs. A total of 3,200 jobs (+1.0 percent) have been created in this division since November 2001.

·        Finance, Insurance and Real Estate gained 200 jobs (+0.3 percent) in November as a result of job gains in Depository Institutions. Over the past year, this major division has expanded by 1,400 jobs (+1.9 percent).

·        Manufacturing remained unchanged at 173,900 jobs in November. Employment gains in Nondurable Goods were mainly contributed by Printing and Publishing Industries. Compared to a year ago, this major division has lost 3,200 jobs (-1.8 percent).

·        Transportation and Public Utilities remained constant at 82,400 jobs over the month. Over the year, employment in this industry has declined 2,100 jobs (-2.5 percent).

·        Services declined by 1,100 jobs (-0.2 percent) in November, losing jobs for the second month in a row. Hotel & Other Lodging Places and Business Services accounted for the seasonal job losses. The employment level has risen by 3,200 jobs (+1.0 percent) over the year.

·        Construction lost 300 jobs over the month. Compared with November 2001, this industry has expanded by 2,400 jobs (+3.7 percent).

·        Mining experienced a seasonal decline of 400 jobs in November 2001. Compared to the previous year, this major division has increased 800 jobs (+2.6 percent).

Click here to view the Oklahoma NonAg. Wage and Salary Employment Information

OKLAHOMA CITY

RETAIL TRADE DRIVES OKC JOB GROWTH IN THE SHORT TERM; SERVICES DRIVE LONG-TERM GROWTH

OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA  

TOTAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area gained 2,000 jobs (+0.4 percent) over the month to finish November at 552,300 jobs, a gain of 3,800 jobs (+0.7 percent) when compared to this time last year. Other highlights for November 2002 include:

·        At 129,900 jobs, Trade showed a strong gain of 1,800 jobs (+1.4 percent) over the month and 600 jobs (+0.5 percent) over the year. Holiday shopping boosted Retail Trade to 106,500 jobs in November 2002, an over-the-month gain of 2,100 jobs (+2.0 percent) and over-the-year improvement of 1,400 jobs (+1.3 percent). Wholesale Trade (23,400 jobs) has struggled, declining by 300 jobs (-1.3 percent) since October and by 800 jobs (-3.3 percent) since November 2001.

·        TOTAL GOVERNMENT added 100 jobs over the month, but the current level of 106,400 jobs is 1,000 jobs (-0.9 percent) less than November 2001. Last month, Federal Government declined by 100 jobs (-0.4 percent) while Local Government gained 200 jobs. Since November 2001, Federal Government (27,600 jobs) has increased by 600 jobs, while State Government (38,200 jobs) and Local Government (40,600 jobs) have declined by 400 jobs (-1.0 percent) and 1,200 jobs (-2.9 percent) respectively.

·        Transportation and Public Utilities gained 100 jobs (+0.1 percent) jobs in November, but its’ current level of 25,200 jobs is 700 jobs (-2.7 percent) less than last year at this time.

·        Although Services remained stable over the month at 180,100 jobs, this division has been a major source of job growth for Oklahoma City, adding 5,500 jobs (+3.2 percent) since this time last year.

·        Construction, at 25,400 jobs, also held steady from October to November. Over the past year, 1,300 jobs (+5.4 percent) have been added to this division.

·        Finance, Insurance and Real Estate remained unchanged over the month to finish at 30,300 jobs, but has expanded by 600 jobs (+2.0 percent) over the past year.

·        Mining remained unchanged over the month at 7,600 jobs. This division has grown by 100 jobs (+1.3 percent) since November 2001.

·        Despite the fact that Manufacturing remained at 47,400 jobs over the month, the division has lost 2,600 jobs (-5.2 percent) since November 2001. Durable Goods held at 32,300 jobs over the month, but has dropped 2,100 jobs (-6.1 percent) since last November.  Nondurable Goods, also unchanged at 15,100 jobs, has dropped 500 jobs (-3.2 percent) over the year.

  Click here to view the Oklahoma City NonAg. Wage and Salary Employment Information

TULSA

HOLIDAY SEASON STRENGTHENS TULSA EMPLOYMENT

TULSA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area rose to 411,500 jobs in November 2002 with a monthly gain of 1,100 jobs (+0.3 percent) and an annual gain of 1,300 jobs (+0.3 percent). Other highlights include:

·        Trade added 1,400 employees (+1.6 percent) to finish November 2002 at 90,900 jobs. However, employment in this division has declined by 1,800 jobs (-1.9 percent) since November 2001. Spurred on by holiday shopping, Retail Trade (70,000 jobs) contributed the full addition of 1,400 jobs over the month, yet has lost 2,300 jobs (-3.2 percent) since this time last year. Wholesale Trade, which has gained 500 jobs since November 2001, remained constant at 20,900 jobs for the month.

·        Manufacturing (56,900 jobs) reported an increase of 200 workers (+0.4 percent) since October and 300 employees (+0.5 percent) since November 2001.

·        The current Finance, Insurance and Real Estate employment level of 22,400 jobs increased by 100 jobs (+0.4 percent) over the month and the year.

·        Transportation and Public Utilities, at 35,300 jobs, experienced a marginal growth of 100 jobs (+0.3 percent) since October 2002 and marginal decline of 400 jobs (-1.1 percent) over the year.

·        Mining held steady at 5,700 jobs for the month, but has shown a loss of 400 jobs (-6.6 percent) since November 2001.

·        At 133,800 jobs, Services dropped 200 employees (-0.1 percent) over the month. This division has contributed significantly to the Tulsa MSA, adding 2,600 jobs (+2.0 percent) since November 2001.

·        Construction finished November 2002 at 21,100 jobs, a decline of 200 jobs (-0.9 percent) over the month but an expansion of 800 jobs (+3.9 percent) over the year.

·        TOTAL GOVERNMENT (45,400 jobs) decreased by 300 employees (-0.7 percent) over the month, but has added 100 jobs (+0.2 percent) since November 2001. Federal Government remained constant over the month while gaining 100 jobs since November 2001. State Government (6,300 jobs) gained 100 jobs over the month, but lost 200 jobs over the year. Local Government (34,400 employees) lost 400 workers in November 2002, but has gained 200 jobs since November 2001.

Click here to view the Tulsa NonAg. Wage and Salary Employment Information

LAWTON

LAWTON EMPLOYMENT HOLDS STEADY FOR MONTH

LAWTON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT in the Lawton MSA remained relatively unchanged at 39,500 jobs in November after a monthly decline of 200 jobs and annual gain of 300 jobs. Other highlights include:

·        Mining, Construction, TPU and FIRE all held steady for both the month and the year, while Manufacturing stayed unchanged in November at 3,800 jobs, but has gained 100 jobs over the year.

·        Trade, which also remained steady for the month, experienced a slight decrease of 300 workers (-3.4 percent) when compared to last year at this time.

·        Services showed a small reduction of 100 jobs (-1.0 percent) from October 2002, but has added 400 workers (+4.1 percent) over the year.

Click here to view the Lawton NonAg. Wage and Salary Employment Information

ENID

TRADE, SERVICES AND GOVERNMENT AGAIN LEAD SMALL GROWTH IN ENID AREA EMPLOYMENT

ENID METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NON-FARM EMPLOYMENT for the Enid Metropolitan Statistical Area finished November 2002 at 23,900 jobs, an increase of 200 workers (+0.8 percent) for both the month and the year. Other highlights include:

·        Trade gained 100 jobs (+1.6 percent) over the month to finish November 2002 at 6,300 employees. Retail Trade added 100 jobs (+2.0 percent) over the month while remaining unchanged at 5,100 jobs for the year. Wholesale Trade remained unchanged for both the month and year at 1,200 jobs.

·        Services grew by 100 jobs (+1.5 percent) over the month to finish November 2002 at 6,600 jobs.

·        While Federal Government (400 jobs), State Government (900 jobs) and Local Government (2,700 jobs) all held steady over the month, Local Government was the only subdivision to report a change with the addition of 100 jobs (+3.8 percent) since November 2001.

·        Construction held steady at 800 jobs for the month, an increase of 100 jobs (+14.3 percent) over the year.

·        Manufacturing also remained steady for both the month and year with 2,500 jobs. Although neither recorded an employment shift over the month, Durable Goods (1,000 jobs) has reported an increase of 100 jobs over the year, while Nondurable Goods (1,500 jobs) balanced this shift with a decline of 100 jobs since November 2001.

OKLAHOMA LABOR FORCE

LABOR FORCE AGAIN LOSING WORKERS; TOTAL EMPLOYMENT GROWTH DISAPPOINTING FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR

LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Oklahoma’s Non-seasonally Adjusted Labor Force decreased by 10,200 workers (-0.6 percent) in November, more than offsetting the increase we saw last month. The labor force has declined every month since July of this year except for October. This month’s loss was the largest for the October-November period since 1987. Over the year, the labor force has lost 4,600 workers (-0.3 percent).

For labor market information, news releases, addresses of OESC’s local offices, please check OESC’s home page at 
http:// www.oesc.state.ok.us/