Oklahoma’s Workforce
Veterans According to Veterans Data Central, 8.7% of Oklahoma’s adult population are veterans, with largest portion of that population being veterans of the Vietnam War (36.3%) followed by the Iraq and Afghanistan War (24.5%). Veterans experience lower poverty rates in Oklahoma (7.6%) than non-veterans and also have median household incomes ($65,083) higher than non-veterans ($56,106). In addition, 78.1% of veterans own their home in Oklahoma with an median home value of $150,000. The labor force participation rate for veterans age 18-64 was estimated at 73.5% and unemployment was 3.7% according to the U.S. Census Bureau 2022 American Community Survey. In summary, Oklahoma appears to be leading the way in actively engaging our veterans. There are many barriers to employment that individuals can experience beyond what is mentioned in this report. Mental health and homelessness continue to be challenges in the state and nation. In January 2022, Oklahoma had 3,754 people experiencing homelessness and the No. 6 highest homelessness rate in the nation according to the December 2023 Oklahoma Criminal Justice Data Snapshot report. Many factors contribute to homelessness, one being the affordability of housing. Homelessness According to the December 2023 Oklahoma Criminal Justice Data Snapshot, more than 90% of incarcerated individuals are released into the community. Many convictions come with collateral consequences which can impact occupational licensing. Employment-related issues account for 74% of collateral consequences which create another barrier for workforce re-entry. There have been several state initiatives focusing on helping justice-involved individuals: Passage of Oklahoma state question 780 that reclassified some drug and property felonies as misdemeanors. State Question 781 directed imprisonment savings based on changes from SQ 780 to county governments to fund substance abuse and mental health services. House Bill 3316 was signed into law in May 2022, which aims to simplify the process of expunging a criminal record for certain situations. The following initiatives are still pending: SB 1077 ‘ban the box’ bill would prohibit employers from asking a candidate if they had a felony during the application and interview process. House Bill 1792 aimed to create consistency with Oklahoma’s sentencing laws and alignment with other conservative states.
WorkTrends 2024
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