STATE JOB LOSSES IN JUNE REFLECT SEASONAL EDUCATION DECLINES

STATE OF OKLAHOMA

    OKLAHOMA TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT diminished by 13,200 jobs in June 2003, bringing employment down to 1,478,800 jobs. Seasonal education drops caused by the beginning of summer break and adverse weather conditions in May clearly impacted several industries in the state. Other highlights include:

• Natural Resource and Mining gained 400 jobs (+1.4 percent) in June and 1,100 jobs (+3.9 percent) since this time last year. Due to adverse weather conditions in early May, significant impacts were felt in both the Construction and Manufacturing industries. Construction added 1,400 jobs since May with employment gains in all sub-sectors: Construction of Buildings, Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, and Specialty Trade Contractor. Compared to a year ago, the Construction workforce has grown by 2.7 percent. In contrast, Manufacturing lost 2,100 jobs (–1.4 percent) after reporting gains in April and May. Most of the losses were reported in Motor Vehicle Manufacturing due in part to the storms in early May. The Manufacturing workforce registered a decline of 6,500 jobs (-4.3 percent) over the past year.

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities edged up by 2,100 jobs in June. Wholesale Trade accounted for most of the gains followed by Retail Trade and Transportation, Warehouse and Utilities. However, employment in Air Transportation posted a significant decline (-700 jobs) since last month, following a downward trend seen around the nation. 

• Information fell by 300 jobs in June, mirroring its drop of the previous month. Over the year, this industry has decreased by 1,400 jobs. Financial Activities was down by 200 jobs in June due to losses in Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, offsetting gains in Finance and Insurance. Despite an over-the month loss in Financial Activities, this workforce has improved 800 jobs since last year at this time. 

• In June, Professional and Business Services lost 3,200 jobs, led by losses in Administrative and Support Services. Educational and Health Services edged lower by 2,700 jobs over the month as a result of seasonal education losses. Educational Services accounted for the majority of job losses with an annual decline of 3.5 percent. 

• Leisure and Hospitality grew by 600 jobs in June, leaving the sector with a gain of 1.1 percent over the year. Employment gains for the month were widespread throughout Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation and Accommodation and Food Services. Other Services continued to increase by 1.6 percent over the month and 3.9 percent over the year.

• Government declined by 10,400 jobs in June due to the seasonal education employment drops in State and Local Government. In contrast, Government posted an annual gain of 800 jobs after reporting losses since October 2002.

SERVICE PROVIDING INDUSTRIES SEE EMPLOYMENT DROP IN OKLAHOMA CITY MSA      

OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

    TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Oklahoma City MSA was 541,500 jobs in June 2003. Over the month, 7,800 jobs (-1.4 percent) were lost, but 100 employees were gained when compared to June 2002. Employment lost in the Manufacturing sector was offset by a corresponding gain in Construction, while Natural Resources and Mining remained unchanged over the month. Thus, the only employment losses seen from May to June were in the Service Providing industries. The drop in workers was partly seasonal (as schools owned by State and Local Government were on summer vacation) and partly a result of poor performance in the Administrative and Support Services sub-sector. Other highlights include:

• Natural Resources and Mining held steady from May 2003, but gained 200 employees (+3.0 percent) when compared to June 2002.

• Construction added 1,700 workers (+7.9 percent) from May 2003 and 1,200 workers (+5.4 percent) over the year. Job expansion in Construction occurred mostly in Specialty Trade Contractors. 

•  Manufacturing dropped 1,700 workers (-4.1 percent) in June 2003 to settle at 39,600 employees. This number is only 100 short of the 1,800 jobs (-4.3 percent) that were shed when compared to June 2002. The May tornadoes that disrupted Manufacturing in Oklahoma City mainly accounted for this unexpected decrease in employment. 

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities contracted by 300 employees (-0.3 percent) from the previous month and by 1,000 workers (-1.0 percent) over the year. Job losses were predominant in the Retail Trade and Transportation and Warehousing sub-sectors.

• Information grew by 200 employees (+1.5 percent) from May 2003. However, this industry decreased by 200 jobs (-1.4 percent) from the previous year. 

• Financial Activities held steady for the month, but lost 600 workers (-1.8 percent) when compared to same period last year. 

• Professional and Business Services contracted by 2,000 employees (-2.8 percent) from May 2003 and by 1,500 jobs (-2.1 percent) from June 2002. The Administrative and Support Services sub-sector reported a loss of 2,800 jobs (-6.8 percent) for the month. 

• Educational and Health Services decreased by 1,300 jobs (-1.9 percent) in May 2003, but has gained the same amount since June 2002. This seasonal decline stemmed from losses in Private Educational Services.  

•  Leisure and Hospitality lost 1,000 workers (-1.8 percent) from last month, but added 2,000 jobs when compared to June 2002. Job declines were reported in all Leisure and Hospitality sub-sectors. 

• Employment in Other Services expanded by 800 jobs (+2.9 percent) over the month and by 600 jobs (+2.2 percent) over the year.

• Government decreased by 4,200 jobs (-3.7 percent) in June 2003 and showed a marginal decrease of 100 employees (-0.1 percent) from June 2002. The over-the-month job loss was seasonal as schools were dismissed for summer vacation.

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY AND TRANSPORTATION PROVIDE MAJORITY OF TULSA JOB GAINS FOR JUNE

TULSA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Tulsa MSA increased to 389,700 in June 2003, showing an addition of 2,400 jobs (+0.6 percent) over the month, but a loss of 11,900 (-3.0 percent) over the year. Other highlights include:

• Natural Resources and Mining (4,900 jobs) gained 100 employees for the month but lost 300 (-5.8 percent) employees when compared to June 2002.

• Construction (20,800 jobs) lost 400 workers (-1.9 percent) from May 2003, while experiencing a growth of 200 jobs (+1.0 percent) from same period last year. 

• Manufacturing (45,700 jobs) lost 300 employees over the month and 4,000 workers (-8.0 percent) over the year. These employment losses occurred primarily in the Durable Goods Manufacturing industries.

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities (82,100 jobs) added 1,900 employees (+2.4 percent) in June 2003, but lost 2,800 workers (-3.3 percent) when compared to June 2002. These over-the-year employment losses occurred primarily in the Retail Trade sector (-3,300 jobs).

• Information (13,400 jobs) lost 500 employees (-3.6 percent) over the month and 900 jobs (-6.3 percent) when compared to June 2002.

• Financial Activities (26,000 jobs) added 300 jobs (+1.2 percent) since May 2003 and experienced a growth of 1,000 employees (+4.0 percent) over the year. 

• Professional and Business Services (48,800 jobs) added 400 employees over the month, but declined by 4,000 workers (-7.6 percent) when compared to June 2002. Administrative and Support Services (-3,700 jobs) accounted substantially for this over-the-year loss. 

• Educational and Health Services (48,800 jobs) declined by 400 employees (-0.8 percent) in June 2003 and by 1,000 jobs (-2.0 percent) over the year. 

• Leisure and Hospitality (33,800 jobs) added 2,000 jobs (+6.3 percent) from May 2003 but dropped by 700 workers (-2.0 percent) over the year. 

• Other Services (21,200 jobs) gained 800 workers (+3.9 percent) during June 2003 and 1,300 employees (+6.5 percent) over the year. 

• Government (44,200 jobs) contracted by 1,500 jobs (-3.3 percent) over the month, and by 700 jobs (-1.6 percent) over the year. Most of this employment loss occurred in Local Government.

LAWTON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in June 2003 was 37,400 jobs, a loss of 800 jobs (-2.1 percent) over the month and 1,600 jobs (-4.1 percent) over the year. Other highlights include:

• Federal Government was the only sector to gain employment over the month with an addition of 300 jobs in June.  The gain puts this sector at the same level it held in June 2002.
• Construction lost 100 jobs in June, while remaining unchanged over the year.
• Manufacturing was stable in June, but decreased by 300 jobs over the year.
• Financial Activities held steady at 2,200 jobs in June.  Over the year, this sector has improved by 100 jobs (+4.8 percent). 
• Professional and Business Services and Leisure and Hospitality Services each contracted by 100 jobs over the month (-2.9 percent and –2.7 percent, respectively).  Since June 2002, Professional and Business Services lost 200 jobs, and Leisure and Hospitality Services dropped 100 jobs.
•  Employment in Educational and Health Services was unmoved in June, but showed a marginal decline of 100 jobs over the year.
• A seasonal decrease was seen in Local Government with a decline of 600 jobs over the month. This sector dropped 900 jobs over the year.  State Government fell by 200 jobs in June, but was stable over the year.
• Natural Resources and Mining, Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, Information and Other Services remained constant both over the month and over the year.

ENID METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT for the Enid MSA in June was 23,500 jobs, an increase of 200 jobs over the month (+0.9 percent). Since June 2002, TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT has decreased by 400 jobs (-1.7 percent). Other highlights include:

• Retail Trade gained 200 jobs (+6.7 percent) in June and 100 jobs (+3.2 percent) over the past year. Wholesale Trade added 100 jobs (+9.1 percent) over the month, but remained unchanged over the year.
• State Government maintained the same employment level (1,000 jobs) from May to June, while a marginal increase of 100 jobs was seen over the year. Local Government lost 100 jobs in June, but was stable over the year.
• Manufacturing, Professional and Business Services, and Leisure and Hospitality were all unaltered in June, but each lost employment over the year (-100 jobs, -300 jobs and –200 jobs, respectively).
• Natural Resources and Mining, Construction, Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities, Information, Financial Activities, Educational and Health Services, Other Services and Federal Government each remained unchanged for both the month and the year.