Oklahoma lost 5,800 jobs in March

April 15--Oklahoma saw one of the largest declines in employment in the nation in March, shedding 5,800 jobs, a 0.4 percent decrease.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 4.4 percent in March, according to numbers released Friday by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Oklahoma had the third-largest decrease in employment among states over the month, after Texas, which lost 12,000 jobs, and Indiana, which lost 9,000 jobs.

Over the year, Oklahoma lost 6,100 jobs, a 0.4 percent decline.

Professional business services had the largest job losses in the state for March, shedding 2,400 jobs.

Oklahoma also lost 1,700 manufacturing jobs over the month, according to the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.

Three of Oklahoma's supersectors added jobs in March. Other services, which includes occupations such as equipment and machinery repairing, dry-cleaning and laundry services, had the biggest gain, adding 700 jobs over the month. Leisure and hospitality gained 500 jobs, and construction gained 100 jobs.

Over the year, Oklahoma has lost 11,500 manufacturing jobs and 11,300 energy sector jobs as the state continues to feel the effects of low crude oil and natural gas prices.

Leisure and hospitality had the largest job gain over the year in the state, adding 9,200 jobs.

The national jobless rate was 5 percent in March, little changed from February and was 0.5 percentage point lower than in March 2015.

South Dakota had the lowest jobless rate in March at 2.5 percent, while Alaska had the highest at 6.6 percent.

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