Study: Oklahoma Standard Of Living Loses Ground

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A new study suggests working Oklahomans' standard of living has lost ground even as the state's economy has grown in recent years.<br/><br/>The report from Tulsa-based Community

Wednesday, January 24th 2007, 5:43 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A new study suggests working Oklahomans' standard of living has lost ground even as the state's economy has grown in recent years.

The report from Tulsa-based Community Action Project found that between 2001 and 2005, the median wage in Oklahoma declined by nearly 1 percent and median household income dropped 4-point-5 percent.

It also noted that Oklahoma's labor force is shifting from higher-wage manufacturing jobs to lower-wage service employment.

The anti-poverty organization recommended expansion of health insurance coverage for children, increasing the state earned income tax credit and creating a matched savings program to provide higher education opportunities for low-income children.

Governor Brad Henry's spokesman -- Phil Bacharach -- said Henry hadn't seen the report but has advocated for some of its components, like expansion of early childhood education programs.