Unemployment

[Karried]

Oklahoma's unemployment rate dropped to 4.6 percent last month, down 0.2 percent for the month and a 0.5 percent decline from the same time period last year, the state's Employment Security Commission said Thursday.



Since the 5.2 percent unemployment rate reported in January, Oklahoma's unemployment rate has decreased each month this year.

Natural resources and mining and professional and business services have added 1,700 jobs and 8,000 jobs respectively since March 2004.

"Oklahoma's non-farm employment continued to pick up steam in March," said Lynn Gray, a state economist.

She said the employment growth rate is stronger than at any time in 2004, and indications are that the strongest growth is taking place in non-metro areas of the state.

[Patrick]

She said the employment growth rate is stronger than at any time in 2004, and indications are that the strongest growth is taking place in non-metro areas of the state.

This should be music to the ears of those who live in rural communities. This is actually bucking the recent trend of businesses leaving rural areas.