For the month of December, Oklahoma City MSA unemployment (2.8%) remained unchanged from the previous month (November 2.8%). The Oklahoma City metro has enjoyed 41 consecutive months of less than 4 percent unemployment. This continues to be Oklahoma City’s longest unemployment streak under 4 percent in modern history.
Oklahoma ranked ninth in the nation for the annual cost of raising a child, making it one of the more affordable states in the United States. The estimated annual cost to raise a child in Oklahoma is $19,535, according to data compiled by Visual Capitalist. This places the state at 42nd on the list, since the article rankings are listed from most to least expensive.
Oklahoma has emerged as the 11th fastest-growing state in 2024, according to the U-Haul® Growth Index data that analyzed one-way customer transactions during the past year.
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber's annual State of the Economy event highlighted Oklahoma's economic outlook, workforce development, and fiscal policies in the context of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. The event featured a keynote by Andrew Busch, economic futurist and former Chief Market Intelligence Officer for the U.S. government.
Oklahoma ranked third in economic freedom in the Fraser Institute’s Economic Freedom of North America’s 2024 report, which analyzes data from the 2022 fiscal year. The report uses the all-government index to compare all 50 U.S. states, Canadian provinces and Mexican jurisdictions.
In this month’s Leadership Notes, Chamber President and CEO Christy Gillenwater discusses the accomplishments of 2024, including Oklahoma City’s impressive economic growth with the addition of new jobs, capital investments, and rising employment.
The Independent Shopkeepers Association (ISA) released its annual report on the state of local retail in Oklahoma. This report draws from its 2024 Shop Census, which surveyed 80 independently owned brick-and-mortar shops across the state, from large cities like Oklahoma City and Tulsa to smaller towns like Altus and Woodward. The goal: to understand the challenges, trends, and contributions of independent retailers and provide a resource for shopkeepers and policymakers.
i2E, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to fostering the growth of startups and entrepreneurs in Oklahoma, is proud to announce surpassing the $100 million mark in total investments. This achievement highlights their continued commitment to driving innovation and economic growth across Oklahoma and beyond.
