Oklahoma City closed 2025 on solid economic footing, marked by steady job growth, historically low unemployment, and continued business investment across the metro. While growth is expected to moderate in 2026, the region enters the year from a position of strength, supported by a diverse economy and long-term development efforts.
Oklahoma City’s unemployment rate held steady in August, continuing a historic stretch of strong job performance across the metro. The OKC metropolitan statistical area (MSA) recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3%, improving from 3.0% in July (seasonally adjusted).
Oklahoma has positioned itself as one of the nation’s most active aerospace and defense hubs. The state blends long-standing capabilities with a climate that supports innovation, workforce development and business growth.
As part of its ongoing workforce development efforts, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber launched OKC FAME in fall 2024 to support the region’s growing manufacturing sector.
Business and civic leaders recently gathered for the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber’s State of the Region event, which offered a clear, data-focused look at where Central Oklahoma stands—and where it needs to improve. The event featured a regional economic overview presented by Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater.
The Oklahoma City metropolitan area posted a preliminary unemployment rate of 3.0% in July, improving from 3.2% in June. The metro has recorded unemployment below 4% for 48 consecutive months, the longest such stretch in its modern history.
As Oklahoma City’s manufacturing sector continues to expand, a new generation of skilled workers is stepping up to power that growth. On July 7, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber celebrated the latest milestone for its workforce development efforts with a special signing event for Oklahoma’s first chapter of the nationally recognized Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (OKC FAME) program.
The Oklahoma City metropolitan statistical area posted a 3.2% unemployment rate in June, up from a revised 2.8% in May, according to preliminary data.
