Oklahoma City Has the Lowest Jobless Rate Among Major U.S. Metros — Not the Worst

When headlines claim “Oklahoma City struggles with the state’s worst jobless rate,” most readers naturally assume the metro area is underperforming. In reality, the opposite is true: in April 2025, Oklahoma City’s MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) recorded an impressively low 2.3% unemployment rate, the lowest among all U.S. metropolitan areas with a population over 1 million . Statewide, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate sat at 3.2%, with Oklahoma County—which includes OKC—also at 2.5%.

So why would anyone assign Oklahoma City the dubious honor of having the worst jobless rate in the state? The likely source: a misunderstanding or misapplication of county-level data or outdated statistics. Let’s unpack the facts—and address where the real concerns lie.

Oklahoma City: A Metropolis Booming

• April 2025: OKC metro boasts a historic low 2.3% unemployment—the best of any major metro in the country .
• Long‑term trend: For 45 consecutive months, the metro area has maintained under 4% unemployment—the longest stretch in its modern history.
• State context: Oklahoma’s statewide rate of 3.2% compares favorably to the national 4.2% unemployment rate.
• Benchmarks: Among large U.S. metros, OKC consistently ranks in the top 10–1 regarding labor market strength.

Where the “Worst in State” Label Came From

If Oklahoma City isn’t struggling, where did the claim originate? A few possibilities:

1. County-level mix‑ups: One has to drill down to counties like Love or Pushmataha—which had rates near 4.0% in April 2025—before finding areas that lie closer to the state’s highest unemployment.
2. Rural vs metro confusion: Rural counties (e.g., Love, Pushmataha) do show higher joblessness—but they don’t define the OKC metro.
3. Outdated or lumped data: Reports from late 2024 listed OKC among the top‑4 lowest metro unemployment rates—again, far from “worst in state” .

Economic Strength Drivinɡ OKC

Oklahoma City’s success isn’t accidental—it stems from diversified, strategic growth across multiple sectors:

• Energy roots with modern spread: While energy still plays a role, OKC now includes strong contributions from IT, health services, aerospace, and logistics .
• Major employers: The region hosts powerful anchors—State of Oklahoma, Tinker AFB, Integris Health, Amazon, Paycom, and Devon Energy—each employing thousands (en.wikipedia.org).
• Stable county-level performance: Oklahoma County sits at 2.5% unemployment, well beneath state and national averages .

These factors contribute to the metro’s sustained strength, with businesses actively hiring and record-low unemployment. Far from languishing, Oklahoma City is an economic outperformer.

Still, Challenges in Rural Oklahoma

While OKC shines, some rural areas tell a different story:

• Top county jobless rates in April 2025: Love & Pushmataha Counties recorded 4.0%, one of the highest in the state.
• Mixed county-level trends: Of Oklahoma’s 77 counties, 68 saw year-over-year decreases in unemployment, 6 saw increases, and 3 remained unchanged.
• Broader disparity: While metros like OKC thrive, small-town Oklahoma can still struggle with structural economic challenges.

Opportunities for an Inclusive Economic Strategy

With this uneven economic landscape, policymakers can take action:

1. Targeted rural investments: Infrastructure, broadband expansion, workforce training, and remote-work programs can uplift struggling areas.
2. Metro‑rural partnerships: Encouraging commuter pipelines, satellite campuses, and outreach can bridge the opportunity gap.
3. Sustaining metro success: Continuing to nurture key industries—especially aerospace, IT, biotech, and health—will ensure Oklahoma City remains a job creation engine.

So, Is Oklahoma City Losing the Job Market?

Absolutely not. All data signal one truth: Oklahoma City is thriving with historically low unemployment. The label “state’s worst jobless rate” likely stems from a misread of county statistics or outdated data—but it does flag a real issue: rural Oklahoma continues to grapple with higher unemployment.

• April 2025 OKC MSA: 2.3%, lowest among major metros.
• Oklahoma County: Stable at 2.5%, better than state and national averages.
• Rural counties: Some as high as 4.0%, signaling uneven economic health.

Final Word

The real narrative here isn’t Oklahoma City faltering—it’s rural Oklahoma needing a boost. While metro-focused headlines might skew perceptions, the detailed data reveals a region of economic strength and opportunity—one that, with thoughtful, targeted public policy, can help spread prosperity across the entire state.