OKC metro unemployment rate drops to 3.0% in July

The Oklahoma City metropolitan area posted a preliminary unemployment rate of 3.0% in July, improving from 3.2% in June. The metro has recorded unemployment below 4% for 48 consecutive months, the longest such stretch in its modern history. 

Among the 56 U.S. metro areas with populations over 1 million, OKC ranked third lowest in unemployment for July. Honolulu had the lowest rate at 2.5%, while Fresno, California, reported the highest at 8.6%. 

Across Oklahoma, jobless rates in July were lower than a year earlier in 70 of 77 counties, higher in one county and unchanged in six. 

July unemployment rates: 

• Oklahoma County: 3.1% (down from 3.3% in June) 
• Tulsa metro area: 3.1% (down from 3.3% in June) 
• Statewide: 3.1% (unchanged from June) 
• United States: 4.2% (up from 4.1% in June) 

More information: 

• Oklahoma Employment Report 
• BLS Metropolitan Economic News Release 
• Unemployment Rate Rankings for Large Metros 
• Oklahoma LAUS Data Report 

July data release schedule: 

• U.S. unemployment: released Sept. 5 
• Oklahoma state unemployment: Sept. 19 
• Metro and county-level unemployment: Oct. 1