Energy driving Oklahoma economy, but diversity will sustain it

OIL JOBS _ Statewide employment in Oklahoma's mining sector, dominated by the oil and gas industry, peaked at about 105,000 jobs in 1982 before the bottom dropped out of petroleum prices. A total of

Saturday, July 1st 2006, 12:42 pm

By: News On 6

OIL JOBS _ Statewide employment in Oklahoma's mining sector, dominated by the oil and gas industry, peaked at about 105,000 jobs in 1982 before the bottom dropped out of petroleum prices. A total of 42,000 people worked in that sector in 1989, 26,000 in 1999 and 36,000 last year.

EMPLOYMENT GROWTH _ Oklahoma's nonfarm employment grew from nearly 1.2 million people in 1990 to nearly 1.5 million people in 2005, with most of the gain coming in the service-producing classification, including sectors such as professional business services, education and health.

PAY _ Oklahoma ranks 40th in the nation in per capita personal income at $29,330. When adjusted for Oklahoma's low cost of living, Oklahoma ranks 22nd in per capita personal income category.