Oklahoma Experiences Hiring Slowdown:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 11, 2026

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OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma City Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City released its latest issue of the Oklahoma Economist, titled "Hiring in Oklahoma Slows, but Unemployment Remains Low." This edition uses data from the Kansas City Fed's manufacturing and services surveys to examine the underlying causes of a historic hiring slowdown in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma firms cite demand-based factors like growth expectations and economic uncertainty as the top restraints on hiring, while fewer businesses cite the inability to find workers than in the past, according to Cortney Cowley, assistant vice president and Oklahoma City Branch executive of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

"Business cycle factors so far have contributed more than structural reductions in labor needs," she said. "Very few survey respondents reported using AI as a substitute for hiring, but some use it as a complement to increase the productivity of existing workers."

Cowley said while employment growth in Oklahoma has slowed slightly alongside the sharp decline in the hiring rate, Oklahoma's job market remains relatively steadier compared to the broader United States.

"Most firms have yet to reduce headcount and the state's unemployment rate remains low, indicating Oklahomans continue to remain employed even in a less dynamic labor market," she said. "Although hiring is low compared to historical norms, most firms are maintaining their employment levels and potentially reevaluating specific roles as they are vacated." The complete issue is available at https://www.kansascityfed.org/oklahomacity/oklahoma-economist.

The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City serves the Tenth Federal Reserve District, encompassing the western third of Missouri; all of Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Wyoming; and the northern half of New Mexico. As part of the nation's central bank, the Bank participates in setting national monetary policy, supervising and regulating numerous commercial banks and bank holding companies, and providing financial services to depository institutions. More information is available online at https://www.kansascityfed.org.