Seminole County had Oklahoma’s second highest unemployment rate in September, according to the latest report from the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC).

The report, released Dec. 11, shows Seminole County with a jobless rate of 5.4%, up over August and September 2024, when the rates were 5.2% and 4.7%, respectively. The county’s available workforce totaled 9,414 in September, but only 8,906 workers were counted as employed.

Love County posted Oklahoma’s highest county unemployment rate of 5.5 percent and Texas County reported the lowest county unemployment rate of 1.9 percent in September. Unemployment rates in September were higher than a year earlier in 73 counties, lower in three counties, and unchanged in one county.

Data for nearby counties Hughes County saw its rate rise from 5.0% in August to 5.1% in September.

Okfuskee County’s rate of 4.1% represents a slight increase of .01% from the August report.

Pontotoc County posted a rate of 3.0% in September, up by one-tenth of a percentage point from the August report.

Pottawatomie County’s rate of 3.8% was up slightly over August’s rate of 3.7%.

Statewide statistics Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point to 3.2 percent in September. The U.S. unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage point to 4.4 percent in September. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased 0.1 percentage point from 3.3 percent in September 2024.

Oklahoma’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 3,200 jobs (0.2 percent) over the month in September 2025. U.S. seasonally adjusted nonfarm employment increased by 119,000 jobs (0.1) percent in September. Over the year, statewide nonfarm employment added a seasonally adjusted 24,800 jobs (1.4 percent).

• In September, five of Oklahoma’s supersectors added jobs, as Leisure and Hospitality (2,500 jobs) followed by Construction (1,100 jobs) reported the largest job gains over the month.

• Manufacturing (-900 jobs) followed by Trade, Transportation, and Utilities (-500 jobs) posted the largest over-the-month job losses in September.

• Ten of Oklahoma’s supersectors reported job gains over the year in September, as Education and Health Services (8,100 jobs) posted the largest gain, followed by Construction (3,000 jobs).

• Mining and Logging (-800 jobs) reported the only over-the-year job losses in September.