Oklahoma Unemployment Rate Declines

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Oklahoma's unemployment rate declined in March but was still higher than the jobless rate during the same period in 2009.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported Friday that March's unemployment rate was 6.6 percent, down from 6.8 percent in February. According to the commission, there were 117,740 people who were out of work last month.

Officials say employment gains were reported from February to March in all but two categories -- professional and business services, which lost 1,400 jobs, and other services, which lost 1,000 jobs. Still, Oklahoma gained 3,900 jobs over the month in March.

The commission says 103,210 people, or 5.8 percent of the labor force, were unemployed in March 2009. From March 2009 to March 2010, the manufacturing sector shed 12,600 jobs.

The national unemployment rate is 9.7 percent.