January 2025
Released March 17, 2025
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United States Employment Snapshot
In January, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 9, rose in 19, and remained unchanged in 23.
The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4 percent.
In January, payroll jobs rose in 31 states and fell in 19. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in South Dakota. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Georgia.
Oklahoma Employment Snapshot
In January, Oklahoma added 3,000 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,400 net payroll jobs.
Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 27,600 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.4 percent.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
In January, Oklahoma’s private sector added 800 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 19,000 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,700 net private payroll jobs.
In January, employment in Oklahoma rose by 2,404, and over the past 12 months it rose by 13,662.
Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.6 percent in January and is tied for 29th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.
Oklahoma Payroll Employment
Oklahoma added 3,000 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,400 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 125,000 in January, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 10th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.
Oklahoma added 800 private sector jobs, or 0.1 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during January. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 3,700 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.
Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 81,000 jobs in January, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in private sector payroll employment over the past 12 months.
The best performing sectors on a seasonally adjusted basis during January were Government (2,200) and Construction (1,500).
The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-900) and Leisure and Hospitality (-1,200).
The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (9,100) and Government (8,600).
The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-700) and Professional and Business Services (-1,900).
Oklahoma Labor Force
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 labor force participation rate in Oklahoma remained unchanged at 62.6 percent in January.
Oklahoma is tied for 29th in the nation.
The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63 percent occurring in December 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.
The national labor force participation rate rose by 0.1 percentage points to 62.6 percent in January.