Department of Numbers

Lawton, Oklahoma Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lawton rose 0.1 percentage points in November 2023 to 4.0%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.7 percentage points higher than the Oklahoma rate. The unemployment rate in Lawton peaked in April 2020 at 16.3% and is now 12.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.9 percentage points. You can also compare Lawton unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.7% -0.1 +0.1
Oklahoma 3.3% +0.1 +0.1
Lawton 4.0% +0.1 +0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with November 2023 data as December metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Lawton, Oklahoma, National

Lawton, Oklahoma monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Lawton, Oklahoma Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Lawton peaked in April 2020 at 8,321. There are now 6,267 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 1,574 in December 2021, the number of unemployed has now grown by 480. Lawton employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lawton, Oklahoma) is also available.

Unemployed Persons November 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lawton 2,054 +45 +235

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lawton, Oklahoma Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oklahoma
Unemployment Rate
Lawton
Unemployment Rate
Lawton
Unemployed
December
2023
3.7%
November
2023
3.7% 3.3% 4.0% 2,054
October
2023
3.8% 3.2% 3.9% 2,009
September
2023
3.8% 3.0% 3.7% 1,927
August
2023
3.8% 2.8% 3.6% 1,817
July
2023
3.5% 2.7% 3.4% 1,724
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 3.3% 1,695
May
2023
3.7% 2.8% 3.4% 1,700
April
2023
3.4% 2.9% 3.3% 1,687
March
2023
3.5% 3.0% 3.5% 1,740
February
2023
3.6% 3.0% 3.5% 1,753
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.6% 1,789

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.