February 2025 | Released March 28, 2025

Download the full PDF for Oklahoma

Download the summary PDF for Oklahoma

United States Employment Snapshot

• In February, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia unemployment fell in 8, rose in 14, and remained unchanged in 29.

• The highest unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in Nevada, and the lowest was 1.9 percent in South Dakota. Nationally, the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage point to 4.1 percent.

• In February, payroll jobs rose in 27 states and fell in 23. The largest payroll job percent increase was 0.5 percent in Wyoming. The largest payroll job percent decline was 0.6 percent in Alaska.

Oklahoma Employment Snapshot

• In February, Oklahoma added 2,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,500 net payroll jobs.

• Over the past 12 months, Oklahoma added 22,300 net payroll jobs and the unemployment rate fell by 0.1 percentage point from 3.4 percent.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• In February, Oklahoma’s private sector added 2,500 net private payroll jobs, and over the past 12 months it added 17,800 private payroll jobs. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 400 net private payroll jobs.

• In February, employment in Oklahoma fell by 475, and over the past 12 months it rose by 11,725.

• Oklahoma’s labor force participation rate remained steady at 62.6 percent in February and ranks 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 2,300 net payroll jobs, or 0.1 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 2,500 jobs. Oklahoma nonfarm payroll employment has increased in 10 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, nonfarm payrolls rose by 151,000 in February, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 11th in the nation for percentage gain in nonfarm payroll employment over the past 12 months.

• Oklahoma added 2,500 private sector jobs, or 0.2 percent. on a seasonally adjusted basis during February. In the prior month, Oklahoma added 400 jobs. Oklahoma private sector payroll employment has increased in 9 of the past 12 months.

• Nationally, private sector payroll jobs rose by 140,000 jobs in February, or 0.1 percent. Oklahoma is tied for 10th 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 February were Education and Health Services (1,600) and Leisure and Hospitality (1,400).

• The poorest performing sectors during the month were Manufacturing (-300) and Construction (-1,100).

• The best performing sectors during the last 12 months were Education and Health Services (9,700) and Leisure and Hospitality (7,000).

• The poorest performing sectors during the last 12 months were Manufacturing (-1,700) and Professional and Business Services (-3,100).

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 remained unchanged at 62.6 percent in February.

• Oklahoma ranks 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 fell by 0.2 percentage points to 62.4 percent in February.