Unemployment Rate Declines

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Jobs in the government and educational and health services sectors helped Oklahoma's unemployment rate fall to 4.2% in August. <br/><br/>The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission

Wednesday, September 26th 2007, 6:14 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Jobs in the government and educational and health services sectors helped Oklahoma's unemployment rate fall to 4.2% in August.

The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission says the state rebounded from July's job losses with a gain of 3,700 jobs. From August 2006 to August 2007, Oklahoma's total non-farm employment increased by 18,400 jobs.

There were 1.654 million people employed in August and 72,660 people without jobs last month. In July, 85,730 people, or 4.9% of the labor force, were without work.

Officials say educational and health services and the government provided the majority of monthly gains because public schools and universities began preparations for the new school year.

Jobs in the educational and health services area increased from 187,600 in July to 189,900 in August.

In the area of government, employment rose from 308,100 to 311,000.