Industrial employment in Oklahoma dropped a half percent over the past 12 months according to the 2009 Oklahoma Manufacturers Register, a compilation of state industry published annually by Manufacturers' News Inc. The Register reports Oklahoma shed 1,228 industrial jobs from July 2007 to July 2008, a negligible loss compared to the 2.6 percent drop in manufacturing jobs posted by the U.S. over the same time period.
"While most other states have been losing manufacturing jobs to technology, automation and outsourcing, Oklahoma's stronghold in the oil and gas sectors, as well as increased exports, have helped the state retain industrial facilities," says Tom Dubin, president of the Evanston, Ill.-based publishing firm, which has been surveying industrial sectors since 1912.
Recent government reports indicate Oklahoma's exports have increased by 72 percent since 2003.
Manufacturers' News reports Oklahoma is home to 6,137 manufacturers employing 214,195 workers. Oklahoma's employment loss falls in the middle when compared to its neighbors. According to earlier MNI studies, Kansas' industrial employment grew 1.5 percent and New Mexico's was up 1.6 percent. Texas' manufacturing employment posted no significant change, while jobs in Missouri and Arkansas each dropped 3 percent.
According to the industrial directory, employment in Oklahoma's major sectors posted an increase over the year. Industrial machinery and equipment manufacturing is Oklahoma's largest industrial sector, accounting for 34,597 jobs, up 1.5 percent over the past 12 months. The oil & gas extraction sector accounts for 27,158 industrial jobs, up 18 percent over the year. Fabricated metal manufacturing represents 24,911 of Oklahoma's industrial jobs and was up 4 percent over the year. Rubber and plastics manufacturing was up 1.2 percent over the past 12 months, and currently represents 12,764 of Oklahoma's industrial jobs.
Sectors losing jobs include textiles/apparel, down 15 percent and food products manufacturing, down 8.3 percent. The furniture/fixtures sector was down 6.4 percent; transportation equipment, down 5.7 percent; lumber/wood, down 5.4 percent; electronics, down 5.3 percent; and printing/publishing, down 2.3 percent.
The manufacturers directory reports Northeast Oklahoma accounts for 48 percent of the state's industrial employment, with 103,632 jobs, down 1.2 percent, or 1,279 jobs, over the past 12 months. Northwest Oklahoma accounts for 63,863 jobs, with employment up by 411 jobs or a half percent over the year. Southwest Oklahoma is home to 25,394 workers, with no significant change reported, while the Southeast region of the state is down 418 jobs (1.9 percent) and currently accounts for 21,306 of the state's manufacturing workers.
MNI's city data shows Tulsa is Oklahoma's industrial capital with 48,921 of the state's manufacturing jobs, or 23 percent of the state total, with jobs down 1 percent over the year. Oklahoma City is second in the state with 42,571 jobs, down 1.5 percent over the year. MNI's city data shows both Tulsa and Oklahoma City rank among the top industrial cities in the U.S., with Tulsa ranking 26th for jobs and 17th in the nation for number of manufacturers, and Oklahoma City ranking 32nd in the nation for jobs and 18th for manufacturers.
MNI reports Broken Arrow ranks third in the state with 6,172 jobs, up 3.6 percent over the past 12 months, while fourth-ranked Ponca City increased industrial employment by a half percent and is currently home to 5,254 workers. Lawton is home to 4,292 industrial workers, up a half percent over the year.
