EMPLOYMENT IN TRADE SHOWS IMPROVEMENT IN THE OKLAHOMA CITY MSA

  OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

NOTE: Because of a statewide software conversion for state government agencies, some agencies were late in reporting their October employment. Due to this, the preliminary statistics released today are not strictly comparable to past preliminary estimates for State Government employment. This issue is expected to be resolved when the October-Monthly Final Estimate is released.

• October 2003 employment in the Goods Producing Industries shed jobs due to Construction which dropped 1,000 workers (-4.3 percent) over the month. This job decline was seasonal in nature.  Although Manufacturing shed 500 employees over the month, this supersector added 1,100 jobs (+2.7 percent) from last year. On the other hand, Natural Resource and Mining, which remained constant for the month, had 400 more workers (+6.1 percent) than October 2002.

• The Service Providing Industries contributed 470,500 jobs to TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in October, with 77 percent of these jobs in the private sector. Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade reported over-the-month gains of 400 jobs (+2.0 percent) and 500 jobs (+0.8 percent), respectively. Furthermore, Financial Activities and Nursing Care Facilities added 500 workers each this month. Employment losses were fairly distributed among the other sub-sectors of the Service Providing Industries.

FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES AND LEISURE SERVICES GAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR BOTH MONTH AND YEAR

  TULSA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) expanded to 388,900 jobs in October 2003. This was a gain of 4,500 jobs (+1.2 percent) over the month. However, there was a loss of 5,000 jobs (-1.3 percent) from October 2002. Retail Trade, Educational Services and State & Local Government accounted for the over-the-month employment gain.  Durable Goods Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Health Care Services and Local Government contributed to the over-the-year loss. Other highlights include:

• Natural Resources and Mining was unchanged over the month and over the year. 

• Construction declined by 500 workers (-2.3 percent) from September 2003 but experienced a growth of 1,300 jobs (+6.6 percent) since October 2002. 

• Manufacturing increased by 400 employees (+0.9 percent) in October but lost 2,000 jobs (-4.1 percent) when compared to the same period last year.

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities, the largest sector with 82,000 employees, gained 1,100 jobs (+1.4 percent) over the month but lost 900 jobs (-1.1 percent) when compared to October 2002. Retail Trade added 1,300 jobs over the month while losing 1,500 jobs over the year.

• Information added 100 jobs (+0.8 percent) over the month yet lost 1,100 jobs (-7.7 percent) when compared to the same period last year.

• Financial Activities picked up 200 jobs (+0.8 percent) over the month while experiencing a growth of 1,100 jobs (+4.4 percent) over the year.

• Professional and Business Services employment weakened by 700 employees (-1.4 percent) over the month while gaining 300 workers (+0.6 percent) since October 2002

• Educational and Health Services expanded by 1,300 jobs (+2.7 percent) over the month while experiencing a drop of 2,200 jobs (-4.3 percent) when compared to October 2002.

• Leisure and Hospitality expanded by 1,100 jobs (+3.5 percent) over the month and 100 jobs (+0.3 percent) over the year.

• Other Services contracted by 300 jobs (-1.5 percent) during October 2003 and by 100 employees (-0.5 percent) over the year.

• Total Government advanced by 1,800 jobs (+4.2 percent) over the month and contracted by 1,500 jobs (-1.8 percent) over the year. State and Local Government seasonally increased over the month, while Local Government accounted for most of the over-the-year decline.

  LAWTON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

In October 2003, Lawton’s TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT was 37,700 jobs, an increase of 400 jobs over the month and a decrease of 1,100 over the year. Other highlights include:

• Federal Government was unchanged in October but decreased by 100 jobs since the same time last year.  State Government gained 200 jobs over the month but lost 200 jobs over the year.  Local Government showed an over-the-month increase of 400 jobs and an over-the-year increase of 200 jobs.

• Construction and Manufacturing both experienced job losses over the month and over the year.  Construction decreased by 100 jobs both over the month and over the year.  Manufacturing lost 100 jobs over the month and 300 jobs over the year.

• Wholesale Trade and Retail Trade both remained constant in October, but each lost 100 jobs over the year.

• Financial Activities held steady at 2,200 jobs over the month, an increase of 100 jobs since October 2002.

• Professional and Business Services and Education and Health Services were both unaltered over the month, and each lost 100 jobs since October 2002. Leisure and Hospitality Services also remained constant over the month but lost 300 jobs over the year.

• Natural Resources and Mining, Information, Other Services, and Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities each remained constant over the month and over the year.