FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  

Date: Thursday, June 3 ,2004

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STATEWIDE PRELIMINARY APRIL 2004
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.

The OESC strives to produce the highest quality of labor market information possible which will meet the varied needs of our customers. It is our intention that all information released is the highest quality possible, and all publications and information produced are available at no cost.

Professional and Business Services Reflect National Growth

Oklahoma TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT registered 1,464,000 jobs in April 2004, adding 12,800 jobs over the month. Several Service Providing Industries showed substantial over-the-month growth. After being seasonally adjusted, TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT reported gains of 0.3 percent over both the month and the year.

  • With the annual gain of 6.4 percent, Natural Resource and Mining continued to grow, adding 400 jobs in April. Following a national growth pattern, Construction grew for the third consecutive month by gaining 1,600 jobs. In contrast, Manufacturing declined by 1,200 jobs over the month and posted a loss of 1.8 percent over the year.
  • Trade, Transportation and Utilities increased by 4,500 jobs since March 2004. Retail Trade (+4,200 jobs) and Transportation, Warehouse and Utilities (+600 jobs) accounted for a majority of the employment gains. Wholesale Trade lost 300 jobs over the month and posted an annual loss of 0.9 percent.
  • Despite the job loss in the Information supersector, Telecommunications managed to add 300 jobs in April. Financial Activities showed slight increases over the month and reported annual gains of 2.2 percent.
  • Professional and Business Services improved by 2,800 jobs in April. Following a similar trend around the nation, employment gains were widespread within this supersector. The majority of gains came from Professional, Scientific and Technical Services (+700 jobs), Employment Services (+1,900 jobs), and Services to Building and Dwellings (+800 jobs). This industry has grown by 2,700 jobs compared with April 2003. In April, Educational and Health Services rose by 400 jobs. Over the year, this sector has gained 800 jobs.
  • Leisure and Hospitality experienced seasonal gains of 3,600 jobs in April. Within this supersector, increases occurred in Art, Entertainment and Recreation (+1,200 jobs), Accommodation (+300 jobs), and Food Services and Drinking Places (+2,100 jobs). Other Services edged up by 400 jobs due to a 200-job gain in Personal and Laundry Services.
  • Government was up by 300 jobs in April. State and Local Government accounted for the entirety of the addition, while Federal Government reported no changed. Compared to a year ago, Government sector has lost 0.5 percent of its workforce.

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

OKLAHOMA CITY

Administrative and Support Services Add 1,100 Jobs to the Oklahoma City MSA

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Oklahoma City MSA increased by 600 jobs (+0.1 percent) in April to 537,400 jobs.  This is an increase of 3,100 jobs (+0.6 percent) since last April.  The Service Providing Industries were responsible for most of these increases, adding 600 jobs this month and 4,000 jobs since last year.  Employment in the Goods Producing Industries did not change from March and declined by 900 jobs (-1.3 percent) over the year.

  • Natural Resources and Mining and Construction each added 100 jobs (+1.4 percent and +0.5 percent, respectively) in April.  Manufacturing employment decreased by 200 jobs (-0.5 percent) in April due to a declines of 100 jobs in both Durable Goods (-0.4 percent) and in Non-durable Goods (-0.8 percent).  Durable Goods has dropped 1,100 jobs (-4.2 percent) since last April.

  • Trade, Transportation and Utilities increased by 700 jobs (+0.7 percent) in April.  Retail Trade continued to add jobs, gaining 500 jobs (+0.8 percent) over the month. 

  • Employment in Information declined by 100 jobs (-0.8 percent) in April 2004, while Financial Activities added 200 jobs (+0.6 percent) over the month.  Professional and Business Services also recorded an increase of 500 jobs (+0.7 percent).  This over-the-month gain was mostly attributable to Administrative and Support Services, which gained 1,100 jobs (+6.3 percent).  Since last April, Professional and Business Services has added 3,400 jobs (+5.2 percent).

  • Employment in Educational and Health Services decreased by 100 jobs (-0.1 percent) in April, but has increased by 3,600 jobs (+5.4 percent) since last year.  Leisure and Hospitality Services continued its decline in April, dropping 500 jobs (-1.0 percent) over the month.  Other Services reported 100 fewer jobs (-0.4 percent) than last month.

  • Government did not change in April, but has declined by 1,800 jobs (-1.6 percent) when compared to April of last year.  Over the month, State Government added 100 jobs (+0.3 percent), while Local Government dropped the same number.
 

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

TULSA
Upward Trend in Employment Sustained

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area rose to 379,700 jobs in April 2004, gaining 2,600 jobs (+0.7 percent) over the month. For the past year, Tulsa has lost 5,200 jobs (-1.4 percent). The most rapid over-the-month gains were seen in Broadcasting (+10.0 percent), Specialty Trade Contractors (+5.5 percent) and Accommodation (+3.7 percent).

  • Natural Resources and Mining remained unchanged over the month, but lost 500 jobs (-11.6 percent) over the year.
  • Although Construction added 500 workers in April, the supersector is still 1,800 employees (–9.1 percent) short of its April 2003 level.
  • Manufacturing decreased by 300 jobs (-0.6 percent) over the month.
  • Other Services experienced the largest percentage over-the-month employment loss among all supersectors with a drop of 2.9 percent in April 2004.
  • Information added 400 jobs for the month, but has dropped by 700 jobs (-5.6 percent) since April 2003.
  • Financial Activities grew modestly by 200 jobs (+0.8 percent) since March 2004, a gain of 1,000 employees (+4.2 percent) over the past year.
  • Professional and Business Services added 1,200 employees in April 2004, but was still below the April 2003 level by 900 workers (-1.9 percent).
  • Federal Government and State Government both remained unchanged in April 2004 at 4,000 jobs and 8,400 jobs, respectively.

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

LAWTON

Employment Up In Lawton During April

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT for the Lawton MSA in April was 39,100 jobs, a 1.0 percent increase over the month. Nevertheless, the MSA is 900 jobs (-2.3 percent) short of its April 2003 employment level.

  • Natural Resources and Mining and Information both remained unchanged over the month and over the year.
  • Manufacturing remained constant over the month at 3,400 jobs, but is down by 200 jobs (-5.6 percent) when compared with April 2003. Trade, Transportation and Utilities increased by 100 jobs (+1.4 percent) over the month and by 200 jobs (+2.9 percent) over the year.
  • Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Financial Activities, Educational and Health Services, and Leisure and Hospitality all gained 100 jobs over the month (+1.4 percent, +4.3 percent, +2.8 percent and +2.7 percent, respectively).
  • Government remained constant over the month, but lost 600 jobs (-5.1 percent) over the year.

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

ENID
Enid Employment Back to Last Year’s Level

TOTAL NONFARM EMPLOYMENT for the Enid MSA in April was 22,800 jobs, an increase of 300 jobs (+1.3 percent) over the month and equal with the MSA’s April 2003 employment level.

  • Natural Resources and Mining, Information, Financial Activities, Professional and Business Services, and Other Services all remained constant over the month.
  • Construction showed the largest percentage increase over the month with a 14.3 percent jump
  • Federal Government increased by 100 jobs (+33.0 percent) over the month, but remained unchanged over the year.
Click here to view the Enid NonAg. Wage and Salary Employment Information

OKLAHOMA LABOR FORCE

LABOR FORCE AND TOTAL EMPLOYMENT BOTH EXPERIENCE RECORD LOSSES

   LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Oklahoma’s Non-seasonally Adjusted Labor Force lost 20,000 persons (-1.2 percent) from last month’s upward revised number to reach 1,701,800 in November, the largest over-the-month loss for the October-November period in Oklahoma since 1978. The labor force declined to the lowest level it has seen since May of this year.   Over the year, the civilian labor force reading was little changed, dropping by less than 1,000 people (-0.1 percent). 

Oklahoma’s Non-seasonally Adjusted Total Employment also experienced its’ biggest monthly loss for the same period since 1978. Over the month, total employment lost 15,000 jobs from 1,630,800 in October to 1,615,800 in November. Like the labor force, employment was also at the lowest level since May of this year.  Since the same time period last year, total employment has lost 12,500 jobs (-0.8 percent).

* Oklahoma labor force data record started from January 1978.
Click here to View the March 2004 Preliminary Labor Force Statistics

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/

Last Updated 12/08/2009