Department of Numbers

Tulsa, Oklahoma Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Tulsa fell 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 3.2%. 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 13.2% and is now 10.0 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.7% in January 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Tulsa unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Oklahoma 3.1% -0.1 +0.2
Tulsa 3.2% -0.1 +0.5
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February 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 61,990. There are now 46,340 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 13,217 in January 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 2,433. Tulsa employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Tulsa 15,650 -473 +2,433

Number of Unemployed Persons

Tulsa, Oklahoma Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Oklahoma
Unemployment Rate
Tulsa
Unemployment Rate
Tulsa
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.2% 15,650
December
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.3% 16,123
November
2022
3.6% 3.2% 3.4% 16,665
October
2022
3.7% 3.2% 3.4% 16,772
September
2022
3.5% 3.2% 3.3% 16,341
August
2022
3.7% 3.2% 3.2% 15,823
July
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 15,319
June
2022
3.6% 3.0% 3.1% 14,970
May
2022
3.6% 2.9% 3.0% 14,434
April
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.9% 14,146
March
2022
3.6% 2.8% 2.8% 13,562

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.