Unemployment numbers increase by 4 percent

The state’s unemployment rate climbed from 4.2 percent for October 2008 to 4.5 percent for November 2008, according to figures released recently by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
The nation’s rate jumped as well over the same period, going from 6.1 percent to 6.5 percent.
All counties in Oklahoma except three saw increases in their unemployment rates from October to November. Cleveland and McClain counties saw decreases in their rates (by 0.1 percent and 0.2 percent, respectively), and Cotton County remained unchanged at 2.8 percent.
Pottawatomie County’s unemployment rate rose from 4.4 percent for October to 4.6 percent for November, while Lincoln County’s rose from 4.3 percent to 4.7 percent over the same period.
Seminole County’s rate came up from 5 percent for October to 5.3 percent for November, and Oklahoma County’s came up from 4.4 percent to 4.6 percent.
Cleveland County’s unemployment rate dropped from 4.1 percent to 4 percent from October to November, and McClain County’s dropped from 4.2 percent to 4 percent.
Pontotoc County’s rate climbed from 3.4 percent for October to 3.8 percent for November, while Okfuskee County’s climbed from 4.8 percent to 5.1 percent over the same period.
Seminole County joins 21 other counties with November employment rates of 5.2 percent or higher. They are:
Greer at 5.6 percent (up from 5.1 percent for October); Jefferson at 5.2 percent (up from 4.8 percent for October); Marshall at 5.5 percent (up from 4.3 percent for October); Johnston at 5.7 percent (up from 4.6 percent for October); Atoka at 5.6 percent (up from 5.3 percent for October); Choctaw at 5.9 percent (up from 5.4 percent for October); McCurtain at 8 percent (up from 7.3 percent for October); Pushmataha at 6 percent (up from 5.3 percent for October); Coal at 5.3 percent (up from 5 percent for October); Hughes at 6.9 percent (up from 6.2 percent for October); Le Flore at 5.8 percent (up from 5.3 percent for October); Sequoyah at 6.3 percent (up from 6 percent for October); McIntosh at 5.7 percent (up from 5.3 percent for October); Muskogee at 5.7 percent (up from 5.2 percent for October); Okmulgee at 6.3 percent (up from 5.7 percent for October); Creek at 5.3 percent (up from 4.9 percent for October); Pawnee at 5.6 percent (up from 4.9 percent for October); Nowata at 5.4 percent (up from 4.7 percent for October); Ottawa at 5.2 percent (up from 4.8 percent for October); Delaware at 5.2 percent (up from 4.7 percent for October); and Adair at 5.6 percent (up from 5 percent for October).
Twenty-three counties share November unemployment rates of 3.7 percent or lower. They are:
Cimarron at 3.4 percent (up from 3.1 percent for October); Texas at 3.2 percent (up from 3 percent for October); Beaver at 2.5 percent (up from 2.3 percent for October); Harper at 2.8 percent (up from 2.6 percent for October); Woods at 3.3 percent (up from 3.2 percent for October); Alfalfa at 3.7 percent (up from 3.6 percent for October); Grant at 3.1 percent (up from 3 percent for October); Ellis at 2.6 percent (up from 2.3 percent for October); Woodward at 2.8 percent (up from 2.4 percent for October); Dewey at 2.8 percent (up from 2.7 percent for October); Major at 3 percent (up from 2.9 percent for October); Garfield at 3.2 percent (up from 3.1 percent for October); Noble at 3.6 percent (up from 3.2 percent for October); Kingfisher at 2.7 percent (up from 2.5 percent for October); Custer at 2.9 percent (up from 2.8 percent for October); Washita at 3.1 percent (up from 2.9 percent for October); Beckham at 2.5 percent (up from 2.4 percent for October); Roger Mills at 2.6 percent (up from 2.3 percent for October); Cotton at 2.8 percent (unchanged from October); Garvin at 3.7 percent (up from 3.5 percent for October); Murray at 3.5 percent (up from 2.9 percent for October); Bryan at 3.7 percent (up from 3.5 percent for October); and Washington at 3.6 percent (up from 3.4 percent for October).