Department of Numbers

Tulsa, Oklahoma Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Tulsa rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.1%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points higher than the Oklahoma rate. The unemployment rate in Tulsa peaked in April 2020 at 13.0% and is now 9.9 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in June 2023, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Tulsa unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Oklahoma 3.0% +0.2 -0.2
Tulsa 3.1% +0.1 -0.1
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Tulsa, Oklahoma, National

Tulsa, Oklahoma monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Tulsa, Oklahoma Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Tulsa peaked in April 2020 at 61,226. There are now 45,536 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 13,917 in December 2021, the number of unemployed has now grown by 1,773. Tulsa employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Tulsa 15,690 +882 -16

Number of Unemployed Persons

Tulsa, Oklahoma Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oklahoma
Unemployment Rate
Tulsa
Unemployment Rate
Tulsa
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.2%
September
2023
3.8% 3.0% 3.1% 15,690
August
2023
3.8% 2.8% 3.0% 14,808
July
2023
3.5% 2.7% 2.9% 14,168
June
2023
3.6% 2.7% 2.8% 13,964
May
2023
3.7% 2.8% 2.9% 14,115
April
2023
3.4% 2.9% 2.9% 14,172
March
2023
3.5% 3.0% 3.0% 14,611
February
2023
3.6% 3.0% 3.0% 14,730
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.1% 15,023
December
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.1% 15,283
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.1% 15,332

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.