December 2024 | Released January 28, 2025

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United States Employment Snapshot

• In December, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 7, rose in 25, and remained unchanged in 19.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.7 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In December, payroll jobs rose in 43 states and fell in 7. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.4 percent in Missouri. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.2 percent in Vermont.

Oklahoma Employment Snapshot

• In December, Oklahoma added 4,200 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,800 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 31,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.2 percentage points from 3.5 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In December, Oklahoma’s private sector added 2,600 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 22,500 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 1,800 net private payroll jobs.

• In December, employment in Oklahoma rose by 103, and over the past 12 months it rose by 20,649.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate fell to 62.8 percent in December from 62.9 percent and ranks 28th in the nation. In the past 12 months, the labor force participation rate has fallen by 0.3 percentage points.

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Oklahoma Payroll Employment

• Oklahoma added 4,200 net payroll jobs, or 0.2 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,800 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 256,000 in December, or 0.2 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 12th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 2,600 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during December. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 1,800 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 223,000 jobs in December, or 0.2 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 18th 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 December were Leisure and Hospitality (1,800) and Construction (1,600).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Education and Health Services (-600) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-1,400).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Leisure and Hospitality (12,300) and Government (8,800).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Financial Activities (-1,300) and Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-4,100).

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 fell to 62.8 percent in December from 62.9 percent in the prior month.

• Oklahoma ranks 28th in the nation.

• The 10-year high for the labor force participation rate in Oklahoma was 63.3 percent occurring in October 2023, and the 10-year low was 59.7 percent in April 2020.

• The national labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.5 percent in December.