The COVID-19 pandemic radically altered the U.S. economy, with unemployment peaking at , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). While jobs have been gaining since, millions of out-of-work Americans are still searching for jobs.
Before COVID-19 gutted the economy, the United States' economic landscape was , with health care, computer systems design, and scientific industries leading a push for more employment. On the flip side, industries like wired telecommunications, postal service, and textile production are showing a rapid decline. With the development of newer and more advanced technologies every day, the job landscape is shifting and so are the pay demands and prerequisite skills. There is a strong correlation between advanced education and a higher salary鈥攚orkers with higher education levels have higher wages and lower unemployment rates. Of course, it should be noted that obstacles remain for universal access to quality higher education.
compiled a list of industries with the highest employment in Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area using data from . Industries are ranked by number of employees as of 2019.
Keep reading to see which industries in Oklahoma City are the surest bets for employment.
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#19. Management of companies and enterprises
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 1,289 (0.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +99.2%
National
- Employed: 232,031
- Percent of total employment: 0.1%
- #20 most common industry nationwide
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#18. Utilities
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 6,474 (1.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +6.5%
National
- Employed: 1,272,369
- Percent of total employment: 0.8%
- #18 most common industry nationwide
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#17. Information
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 9,625 (1.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -24.9%
National
- Employed: 2,959,616
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #16 most common industry nationwide
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#16. Real estate and rental and leasing
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 10,804 (1.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -15.2%
National
- Employed: 3,034,330
- Percent of total employment: 1.9%
- #15 most common industry nationwide
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#15. Arts, entertainment, and recreation
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#14. Wholesale trade
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 16,625 (2.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: -1.7%
National
- Employed: 4,013,368
- Percent of total employment: 2.5%
- #13 most common industry nationwide
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#13. Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 20,846 (3.1% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +66.6%
National
- Employed: 799,011
- Percent of total employment: 0.5%
- #19 most common industry nationwide
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#12. Administrative and support and waste management services
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 26,660 (4.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +22.9%
National
- Employed: 6,766,918
- Percent of total employment: 4.3%
- #12 most common industry nationwide
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#11. Finance and insurance
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 29,110 (4.3% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +0.6%
National
- Employed: 7,263,440
- Percent of total employment: 4.6%
- #10 most common industry nationwide
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#10. Transportation and warehousing
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 29,769 (4.4% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +40.1%
National
- Employed: 7,665,636
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #8 most common industry nationwide
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#9. Other services, except public administration
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 33,491 (5.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +1.9%
National
- Employed: 7,584,054
- Percent of total employment: 4.8%
- #9 most common industry nationwide
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#8. Manufacturing
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 44,299 (6.6% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +12.5%
National
- Employed: 15,770,698
- Percent of total employment: 9.9%
- #3 most common industry nationwide
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#7. Construction
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 45,418 (6.8% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +9.8%
National
- Employed: 11,036,894
- Percent of total employment: 7.0%
- #7 most common industry nationwide
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#6. Professional, scientific, and technical services
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 46,420 (6.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +62.0%
National
- Employed: 11,765,340
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #6 most common industry nationwide
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#5. Public administration
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 48,452 (7.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +3.3%
National
- Employed: 7,140,292
- Percent of total employment: 4.5%
- #11 most common industry nationwide
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#4. Accommodation and food services
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 53,795 (8.0% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +21.1%
National
- Employed: 11,801,878
- Percent of total employment: 7.4%
- #5 most common industry nationwide
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#3. Educational services
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 61,847 (9.2% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +17.8%
National
- Employed: 14,839,461
- Percent of total employment: 9.3%
- #4 most common industry nationwide
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#2. Retail trade
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 77,376 (11.5% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +12.9%
National
- Employed: 17,216,634
- Percent of total employment: 10.8%
- #2 most common industry nationwide
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#1. Health care and social assistance
Oklahoma City, OK Metro Area
- Employed: 93,711 (13.9% of total employment)
- Change in employment from 2010 to 2019: +16.0%
National
- Employed: 22,131,751
- Percent of total employment: 13.9%
- #1 most common industry nationwide
