August 19, 2022
United States Employment Situation
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data for the 50 states and DC released at 10:00am on August 19, 2022In July, unemployment fell in 28 states, rose in 8, and remained unchanged in 15.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.2 percent in District of Columbia. The lowest unemployment rate was 1.8 percent in Minnesota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 3.5 percent.
In July, payroll jobs rose in 47 states and fell in 4. The largest payroll job percent increase was 1.3 percent in Hawaii. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Kentucky.
Oklahoma Employment Situation
Oklahoma added 3,800 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 3 percent in July.
Over the past twelve months, Oklahoma added 44,800 payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.9 percentage point from 3.9 percent.
In July, Oklahoma’s private sector added 3,200 net private payroll jobs and over the past twelve months it added 40,900 private payroll jobs in the establishment survey.
In the household survey, the number of unemployed rose by 1,863 on net in July, and over the past year employment rose by 41,352.
Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate rose to 60.8 percent in July from 60.7 percent. Since last year, the labor force participation rate rose by 0.2 percentage point.
Oklahoma Payroll Employment
Oklahoma added 3,800 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during July. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 8,200 jobs. Over the past twelve months, Oklahoma added 44,800 payroll jobs, or 2.7 percent. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment had increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 528,000 in July, or rose by 0.3 percent. Over the 12-month period ending with July, nonfarm payrolls rose by 6,149,000 jobs, or 4.2 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 27th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
During July, Oklahoma’s private-sector added 3,200 jobs, or approximately 0.2 percent. The private-sector in Oklahoma added 7,300 jobs in the prior month. Over the past twelve months, private-sector payrolls in Oklahoma added 40,900, or 3.1 percent. Oklahoma private-sector payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private-sector payroll jobs rose by 471,000 jobs in July, or 0.4 percent. Over the past 12 months, the national payroll rose by 5,943,000 jobs in the private sector, or 4.8 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 26th among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for a percentage gain in private-sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during July were Leisure and Hospitality (1,500) and Other Services (1,400). The poorest performing sectors during the month were Construction tied with Information (-300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500).
The best performing sectors during the last twelve months were Leisure and Hospitality (25,200) and Manufacturing (10,500). The poorest performing sectors during the last twelve months were Mining and Logging (-400) and Government (-11,700).
Oklahoma Labor Force Statistics
Labor Force Participation
The labor force participation rate in Oklahoma rose to 60.8 percent in July from 60.7 percent in the prior month. At a labor force participation rate of 60.8 percent, Oklahoma is tied for 36th in the nation. The labor force participation rate in Oklahoma rose by 0.2 percentage point from a year earlier. The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the civilian noninstitutionalized population age 16 and older who are employed or actively looking for work.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 62.1 percent last occurring in November 2012. The series high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma last occurred in August 1986 when the labor force participation rate hit 65.5 percent. The 10-year low for the labor force participation rate was 59.6 percent in April 2020. The series low for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma last occurred in November 1976 when the labor force participation rate hit 58.9 percent.
The national labor force participation rate fell by 0.1 percentage
points over the month to 62.1 percent in July. That rate rose by 0.4
percentage point from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national
labor force participation rate was 67.3 percent in April 2000. The
10-year high for the national labor force participation rate was 63.8
percent in October 2012. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020
at a level of 60.2 percent. The series low for the national labor force
participation rate was 58.1 percent in December 1954.
Employment-to-Population Ratio
The employment-to-population ratio, or the percentage of the Oklahoma civilian noninstitutionalized population 16 years and older counted as employed, in July remained unchanged. At 59 percent, Oklahoma is tied for 33rd among state employment-to-population ratios in the nation. The employment-to-population ratio in Oklahoma rose by 0.7 percentage point from a year earlier.
The 10-year high for the employment-to-population ratio in Oklahoma was 59.4 percent last occurring in May 2018. The series high for the employment-to-population ratio in Oklahoma last occurred in November 1999 when the employment-to-population ratio hit 62.5 percent. The 10-year low for the employment-to-population ratio was 52.1 percent in April 2020. This also represents the series low for the employment-to-population ratio in Oklahoma.
The national employment-to-population ratio rose by 0.1 percentage point over the month to 60 percent in July. That rate rose by 1.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The all-time high for the national employment-to-population rato was 64.7 percent in April 2000. The 10-year high for the national employment-to-population ratio was 61.2 percent in February 2020. The recent 10-year low occurred in April 2020 at a level of 51.3 percent. The series low for the employment-to-population ratio was 51.3 percent in April 2020.
State employment and unemployment data for August is scheduled for release September 16, 2022. The national employment situation report for August will be released September 02, 2022.