Department of Numbers

Lawton, Oklahoma Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Lawton fell 0.2 percentage points in April 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.4 percentage points higher than the Oklahoma rate. The unemployment rate in Lawton peaked in April 2020 at 16.3% and is now 13.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.1% in December 2021, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Lawton unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate April 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.2
Oklahoma 2.9% -0.1 +0.1
Lawton 3.3% -0.2 -0.2
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with April 2023 data as May 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 6,634 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 113. Lawton employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Lawton, Oklahoma) is also available.

Unemployed Persons April 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Lawton 1,687 -53 -83

Number of Unemployed Persons

Lawton, Oklahoma Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oklahoma
Unemployment Rate
Lawton
Unemployment Rate
Lawton
Unemployed
May
2023
3.7%
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
December
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.6% 1,813
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.6% 1,819
October
2022
3.7% 3.2% 3.7% 1,838
September
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.7% 1,864
August
2022
3.7% 3.2% 3.7% 1,876
July
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.7% 1,869
June
2022
3.6% 3.0% 3.7% 1,845

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.