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
About the Writer
This page was created and is maintained by Kurt Tietjen, Founder of Stavera, High Peak Media & HomeGearWorks.com. Kurt is an executive, data scientist and software engineer who holds an MBA in Management Information Systems. In 2010, he partnered with scientists at Northwestern University to launch The Street Wire. This was one of the first mainstream uses of what would become “Narrative Science”, an artificial intelligence platform specializing in natural language generation. You can contact Kurt on LinkedIn here.