Oklahoma Q4, 2019 Employment Statistics- 112,384 employers, up 1.0% from 111,218
- 1,638,565 employees, up 0.4% from 1,631,374
- $945 average weekly wage, up 1.4% from $932
- The average weekly wage is 20.3% below the national average
- The cost of living is 13.0% below the national average
Employer & Employee Growth
In the last year, the number of employers in the state increased by 1,166, which is an increase of 1.0%. The number of employees in Oklahoma increased by 7,192, an increase of 0.4%. During this same period, the average weekly wage increased by $13, an increase of 1.4%.
The number of private employers increased since last years' Q1. The number of private businesses increased by 1,059 or 1.0%. Growth in private businesses in Oklahoma grew slower than the national average of 2.5%. The number of employees in these businesses increased since last years' Q1, increasing by 1,967 or 0.2%. The growth in employees of private businesses in Oklahoma was slower than the national average of 1.2%.
The average weekly wage of employees of private businesses increased since last years' Q1. The averge weekly wage increased by $8 or 0.9%. Growth in average weekly wage of employees of private businesses in Oklahoma grew slower than the national average of 3.8%.
Leading Sectors
Businesses by Sector
The sector with the greatest number of businesses in the state is Retail trade with 11.8% of the businesses in the state. The number of businesses in this sector increased by 1.2%. Professional services (11.7%), which increased by 3.5% and Healthcare (11.1%), which decreased by 1.4%, round out the 3 largest sectors.
Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Qtly Business Change %
| Sector | Change Biz | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and forestry | 76 | 8.2% |
| Educational services | 49 | 5.3% |
| Information | 65 | 4.4% |
| Professional services | 443 | 3.5% |
| Arts and entertainment | 38 | 3.4% |
| Real estate and rental | 120 | 2.8% |
| Company management | 16 | 2.6% |
| Waste services | 172 | 2.3% |
| Transport and warehousing | 54 | 1.8% |
| Construction | 135 | 1.4% |
| Retail trade | 157 | 1.2% |
| Manufacturing | 38 | 0.9% |
| Finance and insurance | 32 | 0.4% |
| Other services | 8 | 0.1% |
| Accommodation and food services | -38 | -0.5% |
| Wholesale trade | -67 | -0.9% |
| Healthcare | -183 | -1.4% |
| Mining and oil extraction | -50 | -1.4% |
| Utilities | -7 | -1.5% |
Employees by Sector
The sector with the greatest number of employees in the state is Healthcare with 12.1% of the employees in the state, had an increase in employees of 2.0% in the last year. Retail trade (11.0%), decreased by 0.0% and Accommodation and food services (9.5%), increased by 1.2%, round out the top 3 sectors.Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Qtly Employee Change %
| Sector | Employee Change | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Transport and warehousing | 6,416 | 11.7% |
| Arts and entertainment | 1,187 | 7.2% |
| Company management | 1,008 | 5.3% |
| Educational services | 474 | 2.9% |
| Healthcare | 3,931 | 2.0% |
| Professional services | 1,312 | 1.8% |
| Accommodation and food services | 1,796 | 1.2% |
| Utilities | 107 | 1.0% |
| Real estate and rental | 121 | 0.6% |
| Manufacturing | 782 | 0.6% |
| Construction | 386 | 0.4% |
| Other services | 54 | 0.2% |
| Information | -1 | 0.0% |
| Retail trade | -42 | 0.0% |
| Finance and insurance | -202 | -0.4% |
| Waste services | -658 | -0.6% |
| Wholesale trade | -845 | -1.4% |
| Agriculture and forestry | -2,281 | -20.6% |
| Mining and oil extraction | -11,590 | -21.2% |
Average Weekly Wage by Sector
The sector that pays their employees the highest is Mining and oil extraction paying $1,864per week compared with the state average of $943. Weekly wages in this sector rose by $40 or 2.2%. Company management ($1,680), rose by $29 or 1.8% and Utilities ($1,674) increased by $47 or 2.9% round out the 3 largest sectors.Table: Sectors by Year-over-Year Weekly Wage Change %
| Sector | Wage Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|
| Educational services | $51 | 6.6% |
| Finance and insurance | $61 | 4.8% |
| Utilities | $47 | 2.9% |
| Retail trade | $15 | 2.6% |
| Wholesale trade | $30 | 2.4% |
| Mining and oil extraction | $40 | 2.2% |
| Construction | $22 | 2.0% |
| Accommodation and food services | $6 | 1.8% |
| Company management | $29 | 1.8% |
| Healthcare | $16 | 1.7% |
| Waste services | $10 | 1.4% |
| Other services | $10 | 1.4% |
| Manufacturing | $13 | 1.1% |
| Real estate and rental | $9 | 1.0% |
| Professional services | $9 | 0.6% |
| Information | $-12 | -1.0% |
| Transport and warehousing | $-13 | -1.3% |
| Arts and entertainment | $-18 | -2.5% |
| Agriculture and forestry | $-24 | -3.0% |
Leading Industries
Businesses by Industry
Each broad sector is made up of specific industries. In Oklahoma. the industry with the most businesses is Restaurants and other eating places with 5.7% of the businesses in the state (with 6,355 employing 130,614 workers). The Restaurants and other eating places industry had 73 fewer businesses, a decline of 1.1% in the last year. Offices of physicians (2.3% of businesses) added 8 businesses, an increase of 0.3% and Insurance agencies and brokerages (2.2% of businesses) added 10 businesses, an increase of 0.4% round out the 3 industries with the most businesses.Table: Top 7 Industries by Business Change %
| Industry | Business Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Food crops grown under cover | 21 | 233.3% |
| Paint and wallpaper stores | 15 | 150.0% |
| All other crop farming | 27 | 142.1% |
| Testing laboratories | 60 | 69.8% |
| Industrial design services | 2 | 50.0% |
| Footwear and leather goods repair | 2 | 50.0% |
| All other miscellaneous store retailers | 310 | 45.0% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Business Change #
| Industry | Business Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| All other miscellaneous store retailers | 310 | 45.0% |
| Offices of all other health practitioners | 88 | 28.7% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 88 | 4.5% |
| Accounting and bookkeeping services | 80 | 4.0% |
| Offices of real estate agents and brokers | 63 | 5.2% |
| Office administrative services | 62 | 12.1% |
| Management consulting services | 60 | 3.0% |
Employees by Industry
Offices of physicians (2.3% of employees) added 8 employees, an increase of 0.3% and Insurance agencies and brokerages (2.2% ofemployees) added 10 employees, an increase of 0.4% round out the 3 industries with the most employees.Table: Top 7 Industries by Employee Change %
| Industry | Emp Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Amusement and theme parks | 358 | 260.6% |
| Paint and wallpaper stores | 84 | 154.2% |
| Translation and interpretation services | 57 | 147.3% |
| Office equipment rental and leasing | 41 | 127.7% |
| Scenic and sightseeing transportation land | 23 | 84.7% |
| Resin and synthetic rubber manufacturing | 140 | 83.2% |
| Other building exterior contractors | 101 | 63.4% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Employee Change #
| Industry | Emp Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| General warehousing and storage | 5,549 | 37.9% |
| Animal slaughtering and processing | 2,671 | 32.8% |
| All other miscellaneous store retailers | 1,510 | 41.3% |
| Restaurants and other eating places | 1,395 | 1.1% |
| Nursing care facilities skilled nursing | 1,011 | 5.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 1,008 | 5.3% |
| Aerospace product and parts manufacturing | 786 | 6.0% |
Average Weekly Wage by Industry
The industry that pays their employees the most is Investment banking and securities dealing, paying $5,013 compared with the state average of $943. Employees in the Investment banking and securities dealing industry were paid $345 more per week, an increase of 7.4% in the last year. Independent artists writers and performers ($3,711) and Musical groups and artists ($3,310) round out the top 3 industries. Employees in the Independent artists writers and performers ($3,711 per week) were paid $283 less per week, a decline of 7.1% and Musical groups and artists ($3,310 per week) were paid $788 more per week, an increase of 31.2% round out the 3 industries that pay their employees the most.Table: Top 7 Industries by Wage Change %
| Industry | Wkly Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Political organizations | $413 | 61.4% |
| Postal service | $205 | 39.7% |
| Blind and shade manufacturing | $147 | 37.3% |
| Motor vehicle electric equipment mfg. | $268 | 35.3% |
| Roofing and siding merchant wholesalers | $317 | 31.2% |
| Musical groups and artists | $788 | 31.2% |
| Agents and managers for public figures | $436 | 29.8% |
Table: Top 7 Industries by Wage Change $
| Industry | Wkly Chg | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Musical groups and artists | $788 | 31.2% |
| Portfolio management | $522 | 29.3% |
| Agents and managers for public figures | $436 | 29.8% |
| Political organizations | $413 | 61.4% |
| Financial transaction processing and clearing | $351 | 25.9% |
| Investment banking and securities dealing | $345 | 7.4% |
| Resin and synthetic rubber manufacturing | $323 | 26.8% |
Company Size
Oklahoma Businesses by Size
The solopreneur company, has the most businesses in Oklahoma by far. 59.3% of all businesses in the state have fewer than 5 employees. The 101,002 small businesses in the state represent 95.7% of all private businesses. The national average is 91.2%. (Small businesses have fewer than 50 employees, Solopreneurs employ fewer than 5.) Oklahoma added 1,127 businesses in the last year, an increase of 1.1% as compared to the national average of 3.0%.Small businesses are defined as companies with fewer than 50 employees. These small businesses added 1,014 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 1.0% as compared to the national average of 3.1%.
Mid-sized businesses are defined as companies with between 50 and 499 employees. These mid-sized businesses added 101 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 2.4% as compared to the national average of 1.3%.
Large businesses are defined as companies with more than 500 employees. These large businesses added 12 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 9.5% as compared to the national average of 2.1%.
Oklahoma Employees by Business Size
Oklahoma added 49,810 employees in the last year, an increase of 4.1% as compared to the national average of 5.2%. Small businesses are defined as companies with fewer than 50 employees. These small businesses added 7,735 businesses in the last year, which is an increase of 8.3% as compared to the national average of 4.2%.Mid-sized businesses are defined as companies with between 50 and 499 employees. Mid-sized businesses added 15,625 employees in the last year, which is an increase of 3.2% as compared to the national average of 4.7%.
Large businesses are defined as companies with more than 500 employees. Large businesses added 26,450 employees in the last year, which is an increase of 21.5% as compared to the national average of 9.2%.
Oklahoma Avg Weekly Wages by Business Size
Oklahoma workers in every size business are paid less than the national average. The smallest companies in Oklahoma (those with fewer than 5 employees) pay workers 12.4% less than the national average ($894 per week as compared to the national average of $1,005 per week). The largest companies in Oklahoma (those with more than 1,000 employees) pay 14.1% workers below the national average ($1,676 per week as compared to the national average of $1,913 per week).Average weekly wages in small businesses added $94 per week in the last year, which is an increase of 3.0% as compared to the national average of 3.1%. Employees of mid-sized businesses added $119 in wages per week in the last year, which is an increase of 4.0% as compared to the national average of 1.3%.
Employees of large businesses added $213 of weekly wages in the last year, which is an increase of 7.5% as compared to the national average of 2.1%.
Top Industries for Business and Employment
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by number of businesses:Table: Top 10 Industries by # of Businesses
| Industry | # Businesses | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and other eating places | 6,355 | -1.1% |
| Offices of physicians | 2,533 | 0.3% |
| Insurance agencies and brokerages | 2,492 | 0.4% |
| Offices of lawyers | 2,484 | 0.5% |
| Support activities for mining | 2,167 | -2.0% |
| Accounting and bookkeeping services | 2,099 | 4.0% |
| Computer systems design and related services | 2,045 | 4.5% |
| Management consulting services | 2,039 | 3.0% |
| Gasoline stations with convenience stores | 1,655 | -5.4% |
| Plumbing and hvac contractors | 1,633 | 1.9% |
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by number of employees:
Table: Top 10 Industries by # of Employees
| Industry | # Employees | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and other eating places | 130,614 | 1.1% |
| General medical and surgical hospitals | 51,491 | 1.1% |
| General merchandise stores including warehouse clubs and supercenters | 35,292 | 1.2% |
| Support activities for mining | 24,971 | -27.6% |
| Offices of physicians | 24,669 | 1.1% |
| Temporary help services | 24,164 | -4.3% |
| Nursing care facilities skilled nursing | 21,181 | 5.0% |
| Management of companies and enterprises | 20,202 | 5.3% |
| General warehousing and storage | 20,168 | 37.9% |
| Commercial banking | 19,305 | 1.2% |
The table below illustrates the largest industries in the state, by highest wages:
Table: Top 10 Industries by Weekly Wage
| Industry | Wkly Wages | % Change |
|---|---|---|
| Investment banking and securities dealing | $5,013 | 7.4% |
| Independent artists writers and performers | $3,711 | -7.1% |
| Musical groups and artists | $3,310 | 31.2% |
| Securities brokerage | $2,832 | -2.7% |
| Petroleum refineries | $2,798 | 0.8% |
| Commodity contracts brokerage | $2,791 | -3.2% |
| Natural gas extraction | $2,587 | 8.8% |
| Farm and garden equip. merchant wholesalers | $2,436 | 14.9% |
| Crude petroleum extraction | $2,392 | 0.9% |
| Investment advice | $2,345 | -0.3% |
Data Sources
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