Okmulgee County’s unemployment rate for the month of May posted at 5.7 percent, experiencing a slight increase from April. According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, Okmulgee County reported a labor force of 16, 387 people with 934 of those unemployed, while in April Okmulgee County only reported 879 unemployed residents.

Across the state, several counties maintained spots in the highest unemployment rate by county, including McIntosh County (6.7 percent), Latimer County (6.3 percent) and Pushmata (5.9 percent). Though the highest unemployment rate by county remained the same, the lowest county unemployment rates experienced a slight hike, similar to that of Okmulgee County.

Cimarron and Blaine County reported the lowest unemployment rates, posting a rate of 2.2 percent with a unemployment force of 110 for Blaine County and 30 for Cimarron. Beaver County followed closely behind with 2.3 percent, while Kingfisher County reported the 4th lowest unemployment rate of 2.4 percent.

According to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, unemployment rates in May were lower than a year earlier in 75 out of 77 counties and unchanged in two counties.

Surrounding counties reported the following unemployment rates for May from lowest to highest:

• Tulsa County - 3.8 percent

• Wagoner - 3.8 percent

• Creek - 4.2 percent

• Muskogee - 4.7 percent

• McIntosh - 6.7 percent