{"schema_version": 1, "id": "oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09", "product": "Metro Job Market Pulse", "metro": {"geography_id": 314, "label": "Oklahoma City, OK MSA", "slug": "oklahoma-city-ok-msa"}, "focus_area": {"key": "general_conditions", "slug": "metro-job-market", "label": "General Market Conditions"}, "period": "2026-09", "public_after": "2026-09-01", "frozen_at": "2026-10-09T13:41:52.036612+00:00", "headline": "Oklahoma City's jobless streak ends as growth cools, wages hold firm.", "headline_summary": "Oklahoma City unemployment climbed to 4.2% \u2014 nearly a point above a year ago and ending 52 months under 4% \u2014 even as statewide wages rose 3.6%, outpacing large-county peers.", "key_indicators": [{"label": "Metro unemployment rate", "value": "4.2%", "context": "Up from sub-4% for 52 straight months prior"}, {"label": "Statewide wage growth", "value": "3.6% YoY", "context": "Vs 1.2% Tulsa, 2.5% Cleveland County"}, {"label": "County-level job growth divergence", "value": "Tulsa +1.4%", "context": "Vs Oklahoma County -0.8%, Cleveland -0.9%"}, {"label": "Metro real GDP growth", "value": "0.9%", "context": "To $81.7B, ranked 338th nationally"}], "takeaways": [{"headline": "Unemployment ticked up even as the state's wage floor stayed flat.", "body": "Oklahoma City's 4.2% rate sits nearly a point above last September despite voters rejecting a minimum-wage increase in June, leaving the $7.25 federal floor in place. Rising joblessness alongside an unchanged wage floor is consistent with softening labor demand rather than a policy-driven cost shock."}, {"headline": "Healthcare is the metro's most reliable growth engine.", "body": "Statewide health and social assistance employment grew 2.1% in 2026 with projections for 17,840 new jobs by 2034, while Registered Nurse advertised pay in the metro rose significantly to a median of $111,912 \u2014 above the national figure. That combination signals durable, demographically driven demand rather than a cyclical hiring spike."}, {"headline": "Oklahoma County and Cleveland County are losing jobs while Tulsa gains.", "body": "Oklahoma County payrolls fell 0.8% and Cleveland County 0.9% even as Tulsa grew 1.4%, pointing to uneven momentum within the state rather than a uniform slowdown. Commerce leaders comparing regional competitiveness should treat intrastate divergence as seriously as state-versus-national comparisons."}, {"headline": "Wage gains are real, but participation erosion may be the bigger story.", "body": "Average weekly wages rose 3.6% statewide, ahead of large-county peers nationally, yet that gain coincides with a cooling labor market and softer firm-level wage-raise intentions heading into 2026. Wage growth without matching job growth often reflects a shrinking, more selective labor pool rather than broad economic strength."}], "local_conditions": "Oklahoma City's unemployment rate held at 4.2% in September, nearly a full point above year-ago levels and ending a 52-month streak of sub-4% readings, as manufacturing, professional services, and government payrolls each contracted slightly. Statewide wage growth of 3.6% year-over-year is outpacing the local inflation backdrop even as fewer than two-thirds of surveyed Oklahoma firms report plans to raise pay in 2026, suggesting the metro's labor market is cooling in volume while remaining comparatively tight on price.", "implications": "Slowing payroll growth alongside still-positive wage momentum points to a metro economy that is neither contracting sharply nor expanding briskly \u2014 a holding pattern that favors steady, selective investment over aggressive expansion or retrenchment. Sector divergence matters for site-selection and workforce-development planning: healthcare and transportation/warehousing are adding jobs locally while manufacturing and government soften, mirroring the national white-collar/blue-collar split. Current conditions suggest commerce leaders and economic development officials consider monitoring sector-specific momentum before committing to broad-based growth narratives in public messaging.", "looking_ahead": [{"category": "Potential inflection point", "body": "Watch whether Oklahoma City's unemployment rate stabilizes near 4.2% or continues climbing toward the statewide 4.3% figure; a third consecutive monthly increase would mark a clearer break from the metro's multi-year streak of sub-4% readings."}, {"category": "Early indicator", "body": "Initial unemployment claims have stayed low (1,100 for the week of September 5) even as the unemployment rate rises, a divergence worth tracking since low claims paired with rising joblessness often reflects reduced hiring rather than active layoffs."}, {"category": "Worth watching", "body": "Energy-sector activity, with WTI averaging near $84 and rig counts near 51, has historically provided a counterweight to metro-wide softness; sustained oil price strength into Q4 could buffer the Oklahoma City and broader state labor market."}, {"category": "Emerging pressure point", "body": "County-level divergence between Tulsa's growth and Oklahoma/Cleveland County contraction may widen if current sector trends persist, a pattern economic development officials should track when benchmarking the metro against peer regions."}], "roles": [{"role": "Retail Sales Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22834.25, "metro_p50": 28070.0, "metro_p75": 32168.25, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33325.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Retail Cashier", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 22880.0, "metro_p50": 24960.0, "metro_p75": 27040.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 31200.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Warehouse/Fulfillment Associate", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29823.0, "metro_p50": 33972.0, "metro_p75": 36412.75, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 38000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "CDL Truck Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57054.0, "metro_p50": 79300.0, "metro_p75": 92300.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 78000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Delivery Driver", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 27467.0, "metro_p50": 30836.0, "metro_p75": 33642.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 34344.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Construction Laborer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 32277.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 37960.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 40560.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Electrician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57200.0, "metro_p50": 67677.0, "metro_p75": 75920.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 71404.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Manufacturing Production Worker/Assembler", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 29683.0, "metro_p50": 36400.0, "metro_p75": 38480.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Customer Service Representative", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30160.0, "metro_p50": 35360.0, "metro_p75": 37856.75, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 39520.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Food Service Worker", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 25017.0, "metro_p50": 29120.0, "metro_p75": 32676.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 33756.2, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Certified Nursing Assistant / Home Health Aide", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30686.5, "metro_p50": 33432.2, "metro_p75": 35872.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 41106.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Administrative Assistant/Office Clerk", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 31200.0, "metro_p50": 37942.8, "metro_p75": 42000.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 43680.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "HVAC Technician", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 52000.0, "metro_p50": 63988.0, "metro_p75": 67500.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 70720.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Registered Nurse", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 89472.0, "metro_p50": 111912.2, "metro_p75": 119869.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 102581.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Software Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 101328.0, "metro_p50": 140400.0, "metro_p75": 157664.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 153652.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Data Engineer", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 96333.0, "metro_p50": 127026.0, "metro_p75": 139774.0, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 139500.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Accountant", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57376.0, "metro_p50": 69120.0, "metro_p75": 78750.0, "metro_trend_direction": "stable", "metro_trend_magnitude": "stable", "national_p50": 72182.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Financial Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72515.0, "metro_p50": 87132.0, "metro_p75": 101280.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 94782.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "HR Generalist/Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 57637.0, "metro_p50": 83637.0, "metro_p75": 91786.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Marketing Specialist", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 46800.0, "metro_p50": 61500.0, "metro_p75": 69822.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 62354.4, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"role": "Operations Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 56591.25, "metro_p50": 74397.0, "metro_p75": 82492.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 85216.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Elementary/Secondary School Teacher", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 30882.0, "metro_p50": 48274.4, "metro_p75": 52795.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 56731.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Account Manager", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 64602.0, "metro_p50": 91260.0, "metro_p75": 117857.5, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 92749.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"role": "Warehouse Manager", "data_scope": "state_rollup", "metro_p25": 44124.25, "metro_p50": 48918.8, "metro_p75": 52774.25, "metro_trend_direction": "down", "metro_trend_magnitude": "significant", "national_p50": 75000.0, "national_trend_direction": "stable", "national_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"role": "Business Analyst", "data_scope": "metro", "metro_p25": 72815.0, "metro_p50": 86633.0, "metro_p75": 95143.0, "metro_trend_direction": "up", "metro_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "national_p50": 98279.0, "national_trend_direction": "up", "national_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}], "industry_snapshot": [{"sector": "Construction", "median_pay": 61360.0, "pay_trend_direction": "stable", "pay_trend_magnitude": "stable", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Manufacturing", "median_pay": 104500.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Retail Trade", "median_pay": 40653.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities", "median_pay": 61972.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Information", "median_pay": 136168.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Financial Activities", "median_pay": 65895.5, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "moderate"}, {"sector": "Professional & Business Services", "median_pay": 87440.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Education & Health Services", "median_pay": 80000.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "up", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}, {"sector": "Leisure & Hospitality", "median_pay": 30123.0, "pay_trend_direction": "down", "pay_trend_magnitude": "moderate", "postings_trend_direction": "stable", "postings_trend_magnitude": "stable"}, {"sector": "Government", "median_pay": 61228.0, "pay_trend_direction": "up", "pay_trend_magnitude": "significant", "postings_trend_direction": "down", "postings_trend_magnitude": "significant"}], "citations": [], "methodology": "Advertised pay from active employer job postings, not survey data. WageScape's median is calibrated to correct for spurious low-value postings: distribution analysis shows roughly the lowest 10% of raw values are erroneous entries, so the reported median is the 60th percentile of raw advertised pay.", "edition_label": "October 2026", "files": {"html": "oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "pdf": "oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf", "sources_html": "oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.sources.html"}, "published_at": "2026-10-09T14:34:18.243920+00:00", "report_html_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.html", "report_pdf_url": "https://reports.wagescape.com/archive/v1/editions/oklahoma-city-ok-msa/metro-job-market/2026-09.pdf"}