Workforce

Workforce professionals and the support to form your team.

Having a talented, easily accessible workforce is a key component to the success of any business. We have the tools, resources and business-friendly policies in place to help your business hire a qualified workforce – and sustain it.
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Hire the perfect team.

  • Since 2013, there has been a 48% increase in engineering graduates.
  • Oklahoma is a constitutional Right to Work state with low unemployment insurance taxes and programs significantly reducing hiring and training start-up costs. 
  • Oklahoma is among the top 10 most productive workforces in the U.S. 
  • Real GDP growth was the 6th fastest in the U.S. at 3.9% (Q4 18-Q1 19) and remains in the top 10 in the most recent estimates.

Oklahoma Workforce Snapshot

MetricOklahomaUSA
Population3,896,251321,004,407
Population Annual Avg. Growth0.7%0.5%
Median Age36.337.8
Under 18 Years Old24.5%22.9%
Armed Forces Labor Force0.6%0.4%
Cost of Living Index85.8100

Cost of Living

Cost of living in Oklahoma is lower, so your workforce can afford the basics with some left over to enjoy the many amenities across the state and region.

Oklahoma Business + Site Selection News

Oklahoma Now is a monthly newsletter for business leaders and site selection and commercial real estate professionals.

Subscribe today to stay up-to-date on the latest business and site selection news from Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Works

Oklahoma understands structural issues with unemployment and has adjusted workforce and educational training that aligns closer to the future of work, and the current demands for skills by employers. We are growing pipelines between K-12, common education, career and technology education, and higher educational institutions in collaborative and responsive ways.

Oklahoma’s Promise

More college graduates means a stronger pipeline of talent for our future. Oklahoma’s Promise helps low-income Oklahoma students earn a college tuition scholarship by meeting academic and conduct requirements.

Oklahoma Works Together

We’re taking a proactive approach to tackling workforce issues. Oklahoma Works Together provides a roadmap to help more Oklahomans get to work and get more Oklahomans trained in critical industries by connecting industry and education. 

Commerce + Workforce Development

We know that a skilled and stable workforce is critical to economic development. The Oklahoma Department of Commerce works under the same umbrella as the Office of Workforce Development to ensure that we take a collaborative and strategic approach to addressing Oklahoma’s workforce needs.

“Oklahoma has a remarkable workforce; a supportive, stable political environment, and an excellent quality of life our employees appreciate.”
Steve Hendrickson, Director of Government Operations, Boeing

The Pathway to Your Talent Pipeline​

Oklahoma has workforce solutions to ensure your business will have access to a pipeline of talent to get you started and keep you going.

Collaborating for Success

Oklahoma’s post-secondary institutions partner with industry to provide customized curriculums and workforce incentives. Read education & industry partnership success stories and download regional profiles for workforce pipeline details on majors, recent and future graduates,  partnership programs and other data.

Oklahoma Has Competitive Wages

Below are some example professions and their median wages in Oklahoma. Oklahoma’s wages are among the most competitive in the country.

Occupation DescriptionMedian Hourly Earnings, OklahomaMedian Hourly Earnings, Nationwide
Transportation, Storage and Distribution Managers$30.85 $39.95
Construction Managers$26.17 $30.75
Accountants and Auditors$25.56 $30.80
Software Developers, Applications and Systems Software$35.77 $44.27
Aerospace, Chemical, Electrical, Materials, Mechanical Engineers$38.36 $42.30
Production, Planning and Expediting Clerks$21.18 $22.35
Shipping, Receiving and Traffic Clerks$13.58 $14.12
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic$16.88 $17.26
First-Line Supervisors of Mechanics, Installers and Repairers$27.42 $29.34
Machinists$17.01 $19.00
Welders, Cutters, Solderers and Brazers$17.37 $17.54
Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators$14.47 $14.78
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