Impact Of Lost Kerr-McGee's Oklahoma City Jobs Estimated At $247-Million

Tuesday, July 4th 2006, 6:48 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- A new analysis from the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce suggests the loss of about 200 jobs at Kerr-McGee's headquarters would have an economic impact of about $247-million.

Houston-based Anadarko Petroleum announced last month that it would spend billions to buy Oklahoma City-based Kerr-McGee. The oil and gas company employs 209 people at its Oklahoma City headquarters.

Researcher Monty Evans says the loss of those jobs would have an impact of $135-million. Job losses among Kerr-McGee suppliers and a decrease in spending on consumer goods would raise the total impact to $247-million.

A Kerr-McGee spokesman says the company paid about $30-million in salary to Oklahoma City employees last year. The average salary was $110,000.

Anadarko has said it will try to retain some Kerr-McGee employees but at its headquarters in Houston.