AMBULATORY HEALTH CARE SERVICES IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT IN OKLAHOMA CITY MSA

  OKLAHOMA CITY METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

The preliminary TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Oklahoma City Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by 1,000 jobs (+0.2 percent) to finish November 2003 at 546,700. This improvement occurred only in the Service Providing Industries, with the Goods Producing Industries showing a drop of 900 employees for the month. However when compared to November 2002, this over-the-month gain of 1,000 jobs still leaves the Oklahoma City MSA with a loss of 3,000 workers (-0.5 percent) over the year. While the onset of colder weather discouraged Construction activities, the holiday season encouraged Retail Trade in the Service Providing Industries. The expansion in Educational and Health Care employment was unrelated to seasonal factors. Other highlights include:

• At 70,200 jobs, employment in the Goods Producing Industries was 200 more (+0.3 percent) than the same period last year. The Goods Producing Industries were negatively affected by seasonal factors as Natural Resources and Mining, Construction, and Manufacturing lost 100 jobs (-1.4 percent), 600 jobs (-2.7 percent) and 200 jobs (-0.5 percent) over the month, respectively.

• While the Service Providing Industries gained 1,900 jobs (+0.4 percent) over the month, they actually declined by 3,200 jobs (-0.7 percent) from November 2002. Over-the-year performance in Trade, Transportation and Utilities was 2,800 jobs (-2.8 percent) less than November 2002. Financial Activities, which remained steady over the month with 32,900 jobs, recorded a drop of 1,200 jobs (-3.5 percent) from the same period last year. Administrative and Support Services lost 1,200 jobs over the month and over the year. Employment Services accounted for the largest over-the-month decline in the Service Providing Industries, losing 2,200 jobs (-11.5 percent). Despite these losses, real growth was seen in Ambulatory Health Care Services as 1,300 workers (+4.9 percent) were recruited this month in offices of Independent General and Surgical Medical Practitioners and Mental Health, Occupational and Speech Therapists.  Ambulatory Health Care Services grew by 7,600 employees (+37.3 percent) from November 2002. Thus, Educational and Health Care Services reported its highest over-the-month and over-the-year job gain since the second quarter of 2003.

FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES SECTOR POSTS EMPLOYMENT GAINS FOR MONTH AND YEAR

  TULSA METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) contracted to 385,600 jobs in November 2003. This was a loss of 1,300 jobs (-0.3 percent) over the month and 8,800 jobs (-2.2 percent) since November 2002. Construction primarily accounted for the over-the-month employment loss.  Durable Goods Manufacturing, Retail Trade, Information, Health Care Services and Local Government contributed to the over-the-year loss. Other highlights include:

• Natural Resources and Mining lost 100 jobs (-2.1 percent) over the month but was unchanged over the year.

• Construction declined by 1,100 workers (-5.3 percent) from October 2003 while remaining unchanged since November 2002. 

• Manufacturing increased by 500 employees (+1.1 percent) in November but lost 500 jobs (-1.1 percent) when compared to the same period last year.

• Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Tulsa’s largest supersector with 81,900 employees, gained 200  jobs (+0.2 percent) over the month but lost 2,700 workers (-3.2 percent) when compared to November 2002. Retail Trade added 700 jobs over the month while losing 2,800 jobs over the year.

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

• Financial Activities picked up 300 jobs (+1.2 percent) over the month and 1,200 jobs (+4.8 percent) over the year.

• Professional and Business Services weakened by 500 employees (-1.0 percent) over the month while remaining unchanged since November 2002.

• Educational and Health Services contracted both over the month and over the year. The Health Care Services sub-sector was primarily responsible, dropping 300 jobs (-0.6 percent) over the month and 2,600 jobs (-5.1 percent) over the year.

• Employment in Leisure and Hospitality was constant over the month but was reduced by 1,400 jobs (-4.3 percent) over the year, due mostly to Full Service Restaurants.

• Other Services contracted by 200 jobs (-1.0 percent) during November 2003 and by 700 employees (-3.5 percent) over the year.

• Total Government maintained its employment level over the month and contracted by 1,000 jobs (-2.2 percent) over the year, with Local Government accounting for the decline.

  LAWTON METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in November 2003 was 37,600 jobs, an increase of 100 jobs (+0.3 percent) over the month but a decrease of 1,500 jobs (-3.8 percent) over the year. Other highlights include:

• Retail Trade saw a seasonal increase of 300 jobs in November due to the holiday shopping season.  State Government was the only other sector to gain employment over the month with an increase of 100 jobs.

• Other Services and Local Government each lost 100 jobs over the month and over the year.  Leisure and Hospitality Services decreased by 400 jobs over the month and 100 jobs since November 2002.

• Construction, Wholesale Trade, Information, Educational and Health Services, and Federal Government remained unchanged over the month, and each lost 100 jobs over the year.  Manufacturing also remained constant over the month but lost 300 jobs since last year.

• Natural Resources and Mining, Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities, Financial Activities, and Professional and Business Services each remained constant over the month and over the year.