Oklahoma jobless rate down to 3.8%…..Energy was one of top gainers in creating jobs

 

Oklahoma’s energy industry through its growing employment helped push the state’s jobless rate to 3.8 percent, the lowest such rate since August 2008.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports the state added 3,548 to its labor force last month and 27,148 over the past year. Energy falls under the Commission’s Mining and Logging sector where 5,700 jobs were added from July 2017 to July 2018.

The professional and business services industry gained 1,200 jobs or 0.6 percent in the past month. The sector also had the state’s largest gain with 7,800 jobs.

Education lost 1,300 jobs over the month.

The 3.8 percent unemployment rate compares to 3.9 percent in June. It also compares to 3.9 percent nationally for July.