U.S. Employment Exploration: Oklahoma
Oklahoma has a colorful history in many ways. Its name was created by a white missionary but comes from two Indian words that mean “red person.” It’s also nicknamed the “Sooner” state, based on a time when illegal settlers tried to claim lands that hadn’t yet been opened for settlement. Residents include 55 Indian tribes and speak over 50 languages.
Climate & Geography
Oklahoma is the 20 th largest state, but less than two percent of its area is covered by water. Except for the Panhandle, it’s mostly flat plains and low hills, frequently occupied by oil and natural gas wells, large cattle herds and wheat fields. The highest point reaches only 4,973 feet above sea level.
Oklahoma’s hottest recorded temperature was 120 degrees F, in 1934, and its lowest was
-27 degrees F, in 1930. Statewide monthly averages range from 93.9 down to 24.8 degrees F.
Even the driest regions typically average at least 20-21 inches of rain annually, and the wettest areas average 40-50 inches! As many as 90 days in a year have had at least some hail, and a sizable number of those days had multiple episodes of hail with a diameter of 3/4 inch or larger.
The state is also known for tornadoes. According to a 1997 survey, it averaged 11 tornadoes per month in April and 18 in May. A 50-year study in 2002 showed nine counties with totals ranging from 60 tornadoes up to 86.
Employment Opportunities
Oklahoma’s population was about 3.5 million in 2003, with an unemployment rate of 5.7 percent. From November 2004 through April 2005, the unemployment rate fluctuated between 4.3 and 4.7 percent.
Nine of the state’s top 19 employers are located in Oklahoma City, and six of them are in Tulsa. By far the largest employer is Tinker Air Force Base, with 22,000 employees.
Fastest-Growing Occupations:
The 10 fastest-growing occupations overall for 2002-2012 are projected to be occupational therapist aides; survey researchers; network systems and data communications analysts; medical assistants; fitness trainers and aerobics instructors; social and human service assistants; self-enrichment education teachers; veterinary technologists and technicians; medical records and health information technicians; and personal and home care aides.
For those requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher, the list includes survey researchers; network systems and data communications analysts; physician assistants; environmental scientists and specialists (including health); biomedical engineers; farm, ranch, and other agricultural managers; pharmacists; postsecondary teachers; database administrators; and network and computer systems administrators.
On the other hand, a separate list of “Hot Careers” shows the top 10 as registered nurses; general and operations managers; customer service representatives; truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer; elementary school teachers (except special education); secondary school teachers (except special and vocational education); sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing (except technical and scientific products); first-line supervisors/managers of retail sales workers; licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses; maintenance and repair workers.
Declining Occupations:
Occupations that don’t look promising include word processors and typists; sewing machine operators; electrical and electronic equipment assemblers; petroleum pump system operators, refinery operators, and gaugers; door-to-door sales workers, news and street vendors, and related workers; computer operators; wellhead pumpers; brokerage clerks; and motion picture projectionists. Factoring in a bachelor’s degree shortens the “decline” list to petroleum engineers and geoscientists (except hydrologists and geographers).
Income & Cost of Living
The median household income in 2003 was $35,900, and the per capita income was $26,600.
Oklahoma’s relatively low cost of living helps offset its lower salaries and compares well to other parts of the southwest region. The cost-of-living indices for Tulsa and Oklahoma City come in at 91.3 versus 101 for Dallas and 105.1 for Denver. When compared to major business centers across the U.S., the two cities rank favorably against Boston’s 120.4, San Francisco’s 123.6 and New York City’s 134.1.
Online Resources
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